Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to Be Completed in Three Months, Says Nitin Gadkari.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced recently that the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, which aims to cut travel time between the two cities to just two hours from the current five to six hours, will be completed within the next three months.

Speaking at the 'Times Network India Economic Conclave 2024', Gadkari also stated that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is expected to be completed within two months, reducing the travel time between the two cities to 12 hours, down from 24 hours.

The Delhi-Dehradun highway project comprises two packages, with a ₹10,000 crore project approved for the stretch from Delhi's Kalindi Kunj to Faridabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate this project within the next 15-20 days, Gadkari confirmed.

Highlighting the government's efforts to combat air pollution, Gadkari mentioned that the transport sector is responsible for 40% of the nation’s pollution. While stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana contributes significantly, road construction and fossil fuels also play a role. He assured that the issue of stubble burning will be addressed in two years, with 400 ongoing projects aimed at converting 200 lakh tonnes of rice straw annually into alternate fuels.

Additionally, Gadkari discussed the development of 36 green express highways, aimed at reducing India’s logistics costs, which currently stand at 14-16%. This compares to 8% in China and 12% in the US and EU. He said the government aims to reduce India’s logistics cost to 9% in the next two years, which would increase exports by 1.5 times and boost the country’s competitiveness.

On road safety, Gadkari acknowledged India’s troubling record of road accidents, which result in 1,78,000 deaths annually out of 5,00,000 accidents. He attributed the high accident rate to faulty roads, poor law enforcement, and lack of education. However, he emphasized that recent initiatives, such as addressing black spots on national highways and updating project bidding norms, will help reduce accidents in the future.

ET