The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday granted in-principle approval for the construction of the Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-Alwar Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS) projects worth ₹53,500 crore, a government official said.
The 111-km-long Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat RRTS project is estimated to cost about ₹16,500 crore while the 180-km Delhi-Rewari-Alwar line will cost about ₹37,000 crore.
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Ease traffic in city
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“NHAI has in principle agreed to construction of these two projects along NH-1 and NH-8. The authority has also in principle agreed to take up the Urban Extension Road-2 which would help in easing traffic congestion in Delhi,” the official said.
According to the official, the decision was taken during a meeting between NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar and Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra here.
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) vice-chairman Uday Pratap Singh, National Capital Regional Transport Corporation MD V.K. Singh and senior officials of the ministry and organisations concerned concerned were also in attendance at the hour-long meeting.
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No land issues
A ground survey for aligning the two RRTS projects has already been done by NCRTC and building them along national highways would significantly reduce construction time by over three years besides bringing down costs substantially since land acquisition would not be required, the official quoted Mr. Mishra as saying in the meeting.
The NHAI and the NCRTC would jointly prepare an action plan after examining the issues related to future expansion plans and possible congestion and the options to address them, the official further said.
During the meeting, Mr. Kumar conveyed in-principle agreement about NHAI taking up execution of Urban Extension Road-2 project aimed at decongesting Delhi by connecting three national highways, the official said adding that a feasibility report in this regard would be prepared in a month’s time for further discussions.