Govt mulls Rs 32,800cr greenfield expressway btw Delhi, Jaipur

Kotputli: Government is considering a proposal to build a new expressway connecting the national capital and the Pink City at an estimated cost of Rs 32,800 crore.

 "We are studying the feasibility of the project for a greenfield expressway between Delhi and Jaipur. The project cost is estimated at Rs 32,800 crore," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said here.

 About 2,800 hectares of land will have to be acquired for the project, the minister said addressing a press conference here after reviewing the progress of Delhi-Jaipur Highway.

 "The cost of the land acquisition will be Rs 18,000 crore," he said adding the expressway's length will be 261 km.

 The proposed expressway will start from the south of Indira Gandhi Airport in Delhi and end at Daulatpura on the existing NH 8.

 The expressway will help in reducing the distance between the national capital and Pink City.
 Gadkari added that the long-pending project of six-laning of Gurgaon-Jaipur section of the NH 8 will be dedicated to the public in December this year.

 The highway project was to be ready in 2011 but it faced several hurdles and issues related with land acquisition, environmental clearance, shifting of utility services, litigation, banking which led to unexpected delays.

 The project is going to finish with only 7 out of the total 57 structures (flyovers) being under construction.

 Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Minister of State I&B Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore and State Transport and PWD Minister Yoonus Khan were also present on the occasion.

 Gadkari also said that government has decided to spare 1 per cent of the cost of construction for plantation in order to increase green cover.

 "We want to develop his highway as an ideal highway. The highway will be beautified with flower and other plants and it will be properly maintained," he noted.