Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated two major highway projects worth nearly Rs 11,000 crore in Delhi-NCR. The 10.1-km Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Alipur–Dichaon Kalan stretch of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) were given the greenlight on August 17 afternoon in Rohini.Ahead of the launch, PM Modi reviewed the sites and interacted with shramyogis (construction workers). Then after the launch he addressed the gathering focusing on the significance of the projects. ““The expressway is named after Dwarka, the event is being held in Rohini, and the atmosphere is filled with the joy of Janmashtami. I too belong to the land of Dwarka, and today the entire environment has become truly ‘Krishnamayi’,” he said.The Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway, developed at a cost of Rs 5,360 crore, is divided into two packages: a 5.9-km stretch from Shiv Murti intersection to Dwarka Sector-21 and a 4.2-km stretch extending to the Delhi-Haryana border. The project will provide multi-modal connectivity to Yashobhoomi convention centre, Delhi Metro’s Blue and Orange lines, the upcoming Bijwasan railway station, and Dwarka cluster bus depot. It complements the 19-km Haryana section of the expressway, inaugurated by the PM in March 2024.The Rs 5,580-crore UER-II corridor runs from Alipur to Dichaon Kalan, linking NH-44 with NH-48. With spurs to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, the project is expected to decongest Inner and Outer Ring Roads and busy junctions such as Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan and NH-09.Also read: Fast Lane Ahead! PM Modi inaugurates Dwarka Expressway’s Delhi section and UER-II projects- 10 things to knowTogether, the projects are said cut travel time from Singhu border to IGI Airport from nearly two hours to just 40 minutes, ease goods movement across NCR, and reduce vehicular emissions, supporting Delhi’s battle against air pollution. They form part of the road transport ministry’s Rs 50,000-crore plan to decongest the capital and improve regional connectivity.Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were also addressed the gathering just before the inauguration.
