The plan to build a two-layer elevated road over NH-8 from Dhaula Kuan to Manesar is gaining pace, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) expected to appoint a consultant for the project within the next two months. The elevated road, meant for only light vehicles, is expected to reduce traffic congestion between Delhi and Gurgaon, particularly at the Sirhaul border.
According to officials, vehicles from Delhi headed towards Manesar and Jaipur and vice versa will be able to use this elevated stretch. The consultant will conduct a project feasibility study with future traffic projections for the next 25 years. The elevated road was initially proposed by Gurgaon MP and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, and road transport minister Nitin Gadkari had given in-principle approval in December 2022.
Singh met Gadkari on Wednesday to highlight continuous traffic jams on NH-8, due to which people are stuck in jams on a regular basis and spend hours on the road. He said considering the current traffic volume and future traffic growth, the ministry is planning to construct a two-layer elevated road. “The traffic volume between Delhi and Manesar is very high and is expected to increase in the future. There is a need for infrastructure development to deal with increasing traffic,” said Singh.
According to officials, decongestion of the Delhi-Gurgaon border and roads connecting the city to the airport is a concern for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) as well. DIAL is working on capacity augmentation for road-based links between IGI airport and Gurgaon. According to DIAL, the passenger traffic at IGI is expected to increase to 109 million per annum by the end of 2023, from 70 million in 2022. “There is an urgent need to augment or decongest NH-8 so as to ensure smooth access to IGI,” an official said.
Meanwhile, in Wednesday’s meeting, the Gurgaon MP also raised the issue of the proposed elevated road between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bharadwaj Chowk. NHAI officials informed the minister that they are in touch with GMDA for utility shifting and details of the city metro project, which will have a similar alignment. Gadkari urged Singh to hold a meeting of GMDA and NHAI to resolve the issues.
The delay in completion of Manesar flyover and Bilaspur Chowk flyover were also discussed.
The status of construction of underpasses at Pachgaon Chowk, Rathiwas Chowk, Ashwas Chowk and a foot overbridge on the expressway were also reviewed.
Singh also raised the issue for widening of the existing Nuh-Ferozepur Jhirka road from two to four lanes. The Haryana government has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) of Rs 594 crore and sent it to NHAI for approval. Gadkari asked NHAI officials to study the DPR and submit a report on it.
The idea of the elevated road had earlier met with resistance from NHAI officials. But Gadkari overruled the objections and directed NHAI to prepare the DPR. The officials pointed out that there is already a flyover at Dhaula Kuan and constructing an elevated road over it may create problems with its height due to its proximity to the international airport. The elevated road’s height, if constructed over Dhaula Kuan flyover, may cause disturbance to flights at the airport, officials pointed out. They had also argued that the imminent completion of the Dwarka Expressway will divert traffic from the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, automatically decongesting it.
Source : TOI