Phase I of Delhi-Meerut Expressway to be operational by December ’17

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The first phase of the 14-lane Delhi-Meerut Expressway, from Sarai Kale Khan in south-east Delhi to UP Gate (National Highway 24) is expected to be thrown open to public by December 2017.

“The first phase is likely to be completed by December,” B.S Singla, chief general manager, Expressways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told Moneycontrol.

He said that the 8.71 kilometer stretch would be completed within 12 months of starting instead of the assigned 30 months.

Singla further informed about the status of other phases, saying that the project was “running on time”.

“Phase two should begin in the next two days,” he said. “Phase three is 20 percent complete as of now and should complete by December 2018”.

He said that NHAI was yet to receive tenders for phase four, the deadline for which is October 5. He said that once the project is allotted to a party, the deadline for completion is 18 months.

The Rs 7,500 crore expressway will not have any traffic signals and will reduce the travel time between Meerut-Delhi to just 40 minutes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation of the Expressway in December 2015, the deadline for which was 400 days, set by union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari.

At the time of the launch, Gadkari had said that the stretch between Delhi and Meerut is the “busiest” and that the initiative was being taken to “decongest Delhi”.