Essel Infraprojects to build 2 BOT roads to decongest Delhi

Essel Infraprojects, part of Essel group, today said it will build two highway projects aimed at decongesting Delhi and easing out traffic flow on the roads connecting six major states with the national capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday laid the foundation stone for both the projects - Mukarba Chowk Panipat Toll Road Ltd and Kundli Manesar Expressway Ltd -- in Sonipat, Haryana.

Essel Infraprojects CEO Ashok Agarwal said: "Both the projects... Will help in cutting unnecessary travel time, decongest traffic and strengthen the path of development... the Supreme Court has suggested developing the Western Peripheral Expressway, that is, the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Section. The stretch we are developing is part of the same."

Essel Infraprojects has 15 road projects across India with order book close to Rs 10,000 crore. The company has so far executed more than 3,600 km stretch across nine states.

The ambitious Rs 2,128-crore Mukarba Chowk Panipat Toll Road Ltd (National Highway No 1) project will involve widening of the road connecting the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Western Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

The road is also important from a strategic and defence viewpoint as it leads to the borders of the country. To cope with the heavy flow of traffic, the highway is proposed to be 8-laned with 2-lane service roads on each side. Essel Infraprojects had bid for the project in March and the Letter of Award was given in July.

The Kundli-Manesar Expressway is a Rs 1,863-crore project and will be a 6-lane Access Controlled Bypass for traffic for Delhi from the western side.

At present, vehicles enroute to Delhi from the west side and headed towards the north need to traverse through the city of Delhi causing congestion and traffic jams in the city.

Once completed, the 69.90 km Mukarba Chowk Panipat Toll Road Ltd will help save about 30 minutes of travel time which is currently close to 120 minutes in heavy traffic.

Both the projects will have pedestrian facilities like guard rails, footpath, lighting, landscaping, way-side amenities, ambulance services, Highway Patrolling System as well as Medical Aid Post.

Both the projects are likely to be completed in about 2.5 years.