Centre seeks Delhi's help in implementing link road projects

The Centre today sought Delhi government's cooperation in implementing the link road projects worth Rs 30,000 crore that seeks to decongest the national capital.
These plans are related to major highway projects including Eastern and Western Peripheral expressways.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Transport Minister Gopal Rai today met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and sought the Centre's cooperation for the odd-even scheme starting April 15.
"In the meeting, the Union minister sought Delhi chief minister's cooperation to remove encroachment from NH-24. This falls under the constituency of Manish Sisodia," a Ministry official said.
The official further said, the minister has told Kejriwal that 8 link road projects are being implemented at an investment of Rs 30,000 crore to decongest Delhi and some are elevated road projects.

"Both sides also discussed the possiblity of running electric buses to make Delhi pollution-free. The union minister also sought cooperation from Kejriwal in a bid to make Yamuna navigable," the official said.

During the meeting, Gadkari said development should not be mixed with politics. Metrino project was also discussed under which metrino pods are planned between 70 km stretch from Dhaula Kuan to Manesar in Haryana with an aim to reduce congestion in the capital.
The Prime Minister in November 2015 had laid the foundation stone of three national highway projects - the Eastern Peripheral Highway, Western Peripheral Highway and 8 laning of the National Highway between Mukarba Chowk in Delhi and Panipat in Haryana.

The projects, having a combined length of 341 km will be build at an estimated cost of Rs 10,166 crore and will run through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
The Eastern Peripheral Expressway will be 135 km long and cost Rs 5,763 crore while the 136 km Western Peripheral Expressway will cost Rs 2,274 crore. The 8 laning of the third project will cost Rs 2,129 crore.
Earlier, Gadkari had said that Delhi's pollution has been catching all attention, but the government will solve the problem in two years as massive attention is being paid to improving road designs, decongesting traffic and promoting eco-friendly fuel like ethanol.