Presently, commuters take the NH-58 to enter Delhi which takes over three hours to cover a distance of 70 km.
The 96-km long 14-lane Delhi-Meerut Expressway by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is now open to the public. It will reduce the travel time between Meerut and Delhi to 45 minutes instead of over two and half hours which is the present travel duration between both the cities.
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari took to Twitter to announce the commencement of the highly-anticipated road project. "Delhi Meerut Expressway has now been completed & opened to traffic. We have full filled our promise of reducing travel time between Delhi-Meerut from 2.5 hours to 45 minutes," tweeted Gadkari.
The expressway connecting the two cities is operational from today. Presently, commuters take the NH-58 to enter Delhi which takes over three hours to cover a distance of 70 km.
It will comprise 14 lanes, out of which six will comprise the central expressway till Meerut, the four lanes on the exterior will be highway lanes.
The route covers crucial congested points, including the NH58 stretch between Anand Vihar and Meerut that passes through Modi Nagar and Murad Nagar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project on December 31, 2015, and inaugurated the first phase of the expressway in May 2018.
The project has been developed at the cost of Rs 8,346 crores.
The 82-km-long expressway connecting the cities has 60 km of the expressway and 22 km of the national highway.
Twenty-four small and big bridges, 10 flyovers, three railway bridges, 95 underpasses, and several pedestrian bridges have been constructed on the expressway.
For the safety of the commuters, more than 4,500 lights and cameras have been installed on the entire road.
Over 2.5 meters cycle corridor and 2 meters-wide footpath have been drawn alongside the roads on phase 1 and phase 2 of the expressway for the safety of the pedestrians and cyclists.
Several exits and entry points have been provided in the expressway for smoother connectivity like the eastern peripheral expressway, Akshardham, Dundahera, Sarai Kale Khan, Dasna, Indrapuram, and Noida.
1. The Expressway will comprise 14 lanes
)
It will comprise 14 lanes, out of which six will comprise the central expressway till Meerut, the four lanes on the exterior will be highway lanes.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
2. The route covers crucial congested points
)
The route covers crucial congested points, including the NH58 stretch between Anand Vihar and Meerut that passes through Modi Nagar and Murad Nagar.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
3. PM Modi laid foundation stone for project on December 31, 2015
)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project on December 31, 2015, and inaugurated the first phase of the expressway in May 2018.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
4. Project cost of Rs 8,346 crores
)
The project has been developed at the cost of Rs 8,346 crores.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
5. 60 km of expressway and 22 km of national highway
)
The 82-km-long expressway connecting the cities has 60 km of the expressway and 22 km of the national highway.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
6. Twenty-four small and big bridges
)
Twenty-four small and big bridges, 10 flyovers, three railway bridges, 95 underpasses, and several pedestrian bridges have been constructed on the expressway.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
7. 4,500 lights and cameras installed
)
For the safety of the commuters, more than 4,500 lights and cameras have been installed on the entire road.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
8. 2.5 meters cycle corridor and 2 meters-wide footpath
)
Over 2.5 meters cycle corridor and 2 meters-wide footpath have been drawn alongside the roads on phase 1 and phase 2 of the expressway for the safety of the pedestrians and cyclists.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
9. Several exits and entry points provided
)
Several exits and entry points have been provided in the expressway for smoother connectivity like the eastern peripheral expressway, Akshardham, Dundahera, Sarai Kale Khan, Dasna, Indrapuram, and Noida.
(Image Source: Twitter/@nitin_gadkari/videograb)
