MoRTH speeds up ₹7,716-cr UER-II project in Delhi

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the Urban Extension Road Project (UER-II) has been fast-tracked, with an expected completion by the end of this year. The project is being implemented at a cost of ₹7,716 crore and is being constructed in five different packages as a component of the Delhi Decongestion Plan. The NH-344M (Pkg 1-3) will function as an additional western ring road in Delhi, providing an alternative route for traffic from West/South Delhi and Gurgaon heading towards NH-44, Chandigarh, Punjab and J&K, thereby reducing travel duration to IGI Airport from 2 hours to 20 minutes. It also connects to the proposed IICC in Dwarka, thereby improving traffic flow in Delhi.

NH-344P (Pkg 4) is another package of the project that begins at NH-344M and ends at NH-352A (Barwasini bypass), serving as a spur to Sonipat Bypass. This project is expected to alleviate traffic on NH-44 and establish connectivity between Delhi, KMPE, and Delhi-Katra Expressway via KMPE. The NH-344N (Pkg 5) is also a spur to the Bahadurgarh bypass, connecting NH-344M in Delhi to NH-10 near Bahadurgarh, easing congestion on NH-10 in Delhi and improving connectivity between Eastern Haryana and Kanjhawala in Delhi, as well as providing a shorter connection between Delhi and KMP Expressway.

In an innovative move, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is utilising 20 lakh tonnes of plastic garbage sourced from the Ghazipur landfill as a part of this project. Overall, the UER-II project is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion in Delhi, reduce travel time, and improve connectivity in the region.