Delhi–Meerut Expressway

Delhi–Meerut Expressway (Hindi: दिल्ली-मेरठ एक्सप्रेसवे) is an under construction 96 km long controlled-access expressway, connecting Delhi with Meerut via Dasna in Ghaziabad in India. While the present stretch of National Highway 24 (NH-24) up to Uttar Pradesh Gate will be widened to 14 lanes from the present eight, the road between UP Gate and Dasna will be also be fourteen-laned. The next phase of the expressway will be built on a new alignment from Dasna to Meerut - a six-lane stretch joining Meerut bypass.The 28 km (17 mi) stretch between Nizamuddin Bridge and Dasna is one of the most congested areas in the NCR. The traffic flow is likely to increase considering dozens of new residential projects coming up along this stretch of NH-24.^[1] The total project cost is ₹78 billion (US$1.2 billion).^[2]

History

A proposal for a Ghaziabad to Meerut expressway was mentioned in the Lok Sabha by the then Minister of State for Urban Affairs and Employment in March 1999.^[3] The proposal again found mention in a February 2000 seminar speech by the then Union Urban Development Minister.^[4]

An expressway from Delhi to Meerut via Ghaziabad was then proposed under the NCR Transport Plan 2021, which was notified in September 2005. The Delhi to Ghaziabad section was to be taken up in 2001-11 with the Ghaziabad to Meerut scheduled 2011-21.^[5][6] In February 2006, the Committee on infrastructure gave approval for a feasibility study for the expressway.^[7] The decision to build the expressway was announced in the 2006 budget speech by then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.^[8][9] Construction of 1,000 km of expressways under National Highway Development Program (NHDP) Phase-VI was approved in November 2006.^[10] In December 2006, it was reported that 600 km of expressways would be chosen from among the proposed expressways including the Delhi-Meerut expressway for the first stage of NHDP Phase-VI on the basis of a prioritization study being taken up by the NHAI.^[10][11]

In April 2008, it was reported that proposals had been invited from consultants for deciding the alignment of the expressway.^[12] In November 2009, it was reported that the alignment study had been completed and a consultant had been appointed for the feasibility study for the project, with the expected completion of the study by May 2010.^[13] In August 2011, it was reported that the expressway was targeted for completion by December 2015.^[14] In October 2011, it was reported that the feasibility report was under progress and the project was to be taken up under NHDP Phase-VI. The alignment proposed was to be along NH-24 from Nizammuddin to Dasna and then to Meerut.^[15] In December 2011, the December 2015 targeted completion date was reaffirmed and the feasibility report submitted by the appointed consultant was said to be under study.^[16]

In May 2012, it was reported that the original target of awarding concession by 2009-10 was not completed due to various problems regarding alignment finalisation, and the consequent delay in feasibility reports.^[17] In July 2013, the Steering Group appointed by the Prime Minister to accelerate Infrastructure Investment decided on 15 March 2014 as the last date for awarding of contract for the expressway.^[18]

In August 2013, it was reported that the expressway was targeted for the contemporary financial year.^[19] In November 2013, it was reported that the stretch from Delhi up to UP Gate was to be converted from six lanes to fourteen lanes with six lanes grade-separated exclusively for traffic moving towards Meerut. The stretch from UP Gate to Dasna was to be eight laned and a new six lane alignment was to come up from Dasna to Meerut bypass on NH-58. The project cost, including land acquisition, was estimated at ₹6,450 crore (US$1.0 billion).^[20]

On 18 November 2013, it was confirmed that center not Uttar Pradesh government will build the much delayed Delhi–Meerut Expressway starting from Nizamuddin Bridge on Ring Road. Once complete, commuters will be able to reach Meerut in 45 to 60 minutes and cut travel time to Haridwar and Dehradun by almost an hour.^[1]

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under the Narendra Modi government approved the Delhi–Meerut Expressway with construction of connected roads to be undertaken. "There will be six- to eight-laning of NH 24 (Hapur bypass), six laning of NH 58 (Delhi-UP border), six-laning of NH 235 (Delhi-UP). The total cost is about ₹7,855.87 crore (US$1.2 billion)."^[21] The deadline set for the project is three years.^[22]

The expressway project concept was taken up by Transport minister Nitin Gadkari. Construction of Nizamuddin to dasna road is scheduled to begin on 31st dec 2016.^[23]

Project

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has divided the 96 km stretch starting from Nizamuddin bridge in the outer ring road in New Delhi to Meerut bypass into 4 packages:

Package I : Nizamuddin Bridge - Delhi-UP Border

This section is 8.7 km long, 14 Lane (6 Lane Expressway, 8 Lane Normal Highway, 2.5 m Bicycle Track on Both Side) with 4 flyovers and 3 vehicle underpass.^[24] The project involves development of expressway from Nizamuddin Bridge (km-0.000) to existing Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Border (km-8.360) section of NH-24 ^[25]

Development of Package I of Delhi–Meerut Expressway in length of 8.7 km in Delhi has been awarded to concessionaire Welspun Delhi Meerut Expressway Private Limited.^[26] Total project cost will be ₹841.50 crore (US$130 million).^[27][28]

Package II : Delhi-UP Border - Dasna

This section is 19.2 km long, 14 lane (6 lane expressway, 8 lane normal highway, 2.5 m bicycle track on both sides) with 13 vehicle underpasses and 6 foot-underpasses.^[24]

Tender goes to Apco Chetak^[29][30] (Apco Infratech Ltd is based in MP and Chetak Enterprises Ltd in Rajasthan), at a cost of ₹1,998 crore (US$310 million)^[31] (cost of shifting of transmission lines: ₹225 crore (US$35 million), cost of shifting water pipeline: ₹160 crore (US$25 million), 22,027 trees will be cut and ₹22 crore (US$3.4 million) compensation given to district forest department)^[24] The work is carried out under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) : Phase-VI.^[32]

A tota nine underpasses and three flyovers are planned on the 20km stretch to Dasna. But following a revision in the detailed project report, the plan was amended to 15 underpasses and a just one flyover, at Lal Kuan. The underpasses will be built in such a way that there is no criss-crossing traffic on the expressway and traffic flow at intersections will be altered accordingly.^[33]

Package III : Dasna - Hapur

This section is 22.2 km long, 8 lane normal highway, from existing km 27.500 to existing km 49.923 of NH 24.^[34] 1 flyover and 12 underpass will be constructed on this segment.^[24] Previously it was 6 lane but in Sep-Oct 2016 board meeting it was updated to 8 lanes.^[31]

Contract has been awarded to Apco-Chetak^[24][35] (Apco Infratech Ltd is based in MP and Chetak Enterprises in Rajasthan), at a cost of ₹1,081 crore (US$170 million).^[26]

Package IV : Dasna - Meerut

46 km long, 6 lane expressway is a new greenfield alignment. This greenfield package requires land acquisition whose work is in progress. “As soon as govt. get 80% of the land, the tender will out". Project will cost ₹3,588 crore (US$560 million)^[24][31] The alignment will be from Dasna in Ghaziabad district to Meerut Bypass at Partapur.^[36]

Earlier, the 45-km-long Ghaziabad to Meerut section of NH-58 was also part of project but due to the decision of Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) to use dividers on NH-58 for trains' elevated corridor, the highway was not used and new alignment was proposed.^[36]

Funding

Of the total project cost, 40% will be funded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the new 'Hybrid Annuity Model'. The remaining 60% will be arranged by the concessionaire by way of mix of debt/equity of 48:12, 12% being the promoter’s contribution and rest will be funded by Punjab National Bank-led consortium.^[37]

Status update

• 2015 December: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the expressway on 30 December 2015.^[38]

Section-1: Nizamuddin Bridge - Delhi-UP Border

• 2017 Mar: 15% work completed.^[39]
• 2017 Aug: 54% work completed. ^[40]

Section-2: Delhi-UP Border - Dasna

• 2017 Mar: Contract is yet to be awarded to developer.^[41]
• 2017 Aug: Apco-Chetak (joint venture between Apco Infra from Madhya Pradesh and Chetak from Rajasthan) the developer for this section is not able to complete financial closure for this section i.e. not able to get it financed by banks. ^[42]

Section-3: Dasna - Hapur

• 2017 Mar: Work started.^[43]
• 2017 Aug: 15% work completed. ^[44]

Section-4: Dasna - Meerut

• 2017 Jul: Land acquisition is complete but tender is yet to be awarded for it. Work is expected to start in August 2017. ^[45]

Very Slow Progress

Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the project in December 2015 and said that it will be constructed within 18 months. Despite his close watch most of the work is still pending. As of July 2017, the 19 villages from which land was to be acquired in Ghaziabad, residents of 12 have contested the amounts of compensation and the matter is under arbitration. Similarly, additional land which was to be acquired in Meerut has also not been acquired. It will take 2.5 years after the construction contract is awarded to complete the project. NHAI has now stopped giving further deadlines for the project.^[46]

As per the NHAI Official "UP Gate to Dasna work will begin on August 1". NHAI has a target of 30 months to complete the expressway work from UP Gate to Dasna, which means the new highway should be ready by March 2020. ^[47]

Green Practices

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to utilise the solid waste from Ghazipur landfill in construction of Delhi-Meerut Expressway to curb pollution.^[48][49][50]

See also

• National Expressway 2, Eastern Peripheral Expressway or KGP (Sonipat(kundli)-Ghaziabad-Palwal) is a proposed road which will bypass Delhi on the eastern side.
• Western Peripheral Expressway, a complementary and under implementation road bypassing Delhi on the western side, Sonepat-Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP).

References