On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that significant projects totaling Rs 35,000 crore under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are currently underway in the national capital, while previous projects amounting to Rs 64,000 crore have been successfully completed. Additionally, new projects worth Rs 24,000 crore are set to commence shortly.
The meeting took place at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Delhi. Gupta expressed her gratitude to the Central Government and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for their approval and completion of numerous major road and infrastructure initiatives in the city.
During the press conference, Rekha Gupta stated, “I would like to extend my thanks to the Central Government and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for the substantial support provided to Delhi through various significant road and infrastructure projects. Currently, a major project valued at Rs 35,000 crore is under construction in Delhi, facilitated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Previously, projects worth Rs 64,000 crore have been completed successfully. In the near future, we will also initiate projects worth an additional Rs 24,000 crore, for which detailed project reports (DPRs) are already prepared.” Gupta further mentioned that several major road initiatives are being devised to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution in the city.
She revealed plans for a 7-kilometre tunnel connecting Shiv Murti to Nelson Mandela Road, new highways linking Delhi to Katra, Amritsar, and Dehradun, as well as an elevated road from INA to the airport. Roads such as Rohtak Road, Nangloi, Ashram, and Badarpur are also set to become signal-free in the near future.
All these initiatives are designed to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution in Delhi. To enhance traffic movement, a 7-kilometre underground tunnel will be built from Shiv Murti to Nelson Mandela Road. Additionally, an elevated road will connect INA to the airport, which will subsequently extend to Faridabad and Gurgaon. A new highway linking Delhi to Katra and Amritsar will be developed and connected to the Urban Extension Road (UER 2).
Another significant highway will stretch from Alipur to Tronica City, establishing a connection between Delhi and Dehradun. This development means that individuals traveling from Haryana to Dehradun or from Dehradun to Noida will not need to pass through Delhi, thereby alleviating traffic within the city.
A tunnel from Sarai Kale Khan to Indira Gandhi Airport is also under consideration. Several other roads in Delhi, such as Rohtak Road, Nangloi, Ashram, Badarpur, and MJ Road, have been taken over by NHAI and will be converted to signal-free routes. Their construction will commence shortly,” Gupta stated. “NHAI will address the drainage system, and improvements will be made to these drainage systems along the roads, resolving long-standing waterlogging issues caused by various agencies.
The PWD will also be involved in this effort. Furthermore, Rs 150 crore has been allocated for the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs),” Gupta added. She mentioned that ongoing and forthcoming projects valued at over Rs 1.25 lakh crore will contribute to reducing traffic congestion, decreasing pollution, and enhancing travel in and around Delhi.
“In summary, I express my gratitude to the Central Government for the projects amounting to Rs 1.25 lakh crore that are facilitating the transformation of Delhi into a modern, clean, and green city. With ongoing support, Delhi is poised to become a world-class capital,” Gupta remarked. In the meeting, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena were also present
