GIRJA SHANKAR KAURA
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, August 12
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared a project to smoothen traffic on one of city’s most congested corridors which leads to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Dhaula Kuan in West Delhi at a cost of over Rs 260 crore.
Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari will lay the foundation stone for it on August 14.
For undertaking the project, Ministry of Defence has agreed to transfer 13 acre of land to the NHAI. The bids for the project have been received and work is likely to start by October and completed within 18 months.
The first bottleneck on this road is junction of station road with national highway 8 in front of the Dhaula Kuan Metro Station.
As per the NHAI plan, this junction is being made signal free. To achieve this, a flyover is proposed to be constructed on right carriageway for traffic coming from Gurgaon to Delhi. At this junction, there is also a provision for U-turn of traffic. Further, 2-ft over bridges with escalators are also to be constructed for facilitating pedestrians. For segregating buses, proper bus bay is to be provided.
On station road a vehicular underpass is to be constructed for facilitating smooth movement of Defence personnel.
The stretch from Dhaula Kuan Junction to Parade Road is proposed to be widened to ensure minimum four lanes on either side for through traffic. Near the junctions additional structures are to be provided.
In this stretch a vehicular underpass is also proposed to be constructed for connecting defence establishments on either side. It would also be connected with Manikshaw Centre.
At Parade Road Junction, the curve is to be improved by road widening to allow smooth turning of traffic towards airport/Gurgaon.