Delhi asks Centre to expedite work on two expressways

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and PWD Minister Satyendar Jain today met Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and asked the Centre to expedite the work on Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, which aim to decongest the national capital.
"Central government has a plan of developing water transport facility in Yamuna and Delhi government has also made a proposal to revive the river which was discussed during the meeting," a senior officer said.
The official said that the development of National Highways going through Delhi was also discussed during the meeting and the Union minister has given a positive response.
Delhi government has also asked the Union minister to expedite the work of Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, which aim to decongest the city's roads and also reduce the pollution level.

Once the project is completed trucks will not have to enter the city reducing traffic volume and pollution.
Earlier, PWD Minister Jain had written a letter, saying that Delhi government has "already paid" its share of amount and "will not pay more".
"Three concerned states - Delhi, UP and Haryana were to share the cost of construction in the ratio of 50:25:25 respectively. The original cost of the project was Rs 844 crore, which has escalated to Rs 3,589.56 crore after four revisions. Initially, Delhi's share was Rs 422 crore and Delhi paid its share upto the first revision of cost, Rs 653.50 crore within the prescribed time," Jain had written in his letter.

The two expressways -- each about 135-km long -- were planned in 2006 following a Supreme Court order to form a ring road outside Delhi for channelling non-Delhi bound traffic and making it bypass the national capital.