Slow pace of work on expressway in Faridabad irks commuters

Tribune News Service

Bijendra Ahlawat

Faridabad, January 19

The district authorities are yet to hand over the 70 metres right of way (ROW) to the NHAI for the ongoing project of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway passing through the city. The deadline has been missed by over a year and the sluggish pace has left the residents at the receiving end.

The Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) appointed as the nodal agency for handing over ROW by December 31 2020, has not been able to finish the job which include removal of construction and encroachments existing in the passage. This has affected the pace of the work, claim sources in the district administration.

Technical issues, legal hurdles

The work has been hampered by technical issues and legal hurdles. As many as 21 out of the total 26 km has already been handed over to the agency — Jitender Dahiya, administrator, HSVP

Cause of air pollution

It has not only added to the commuting problems but also become a cause of air pollution as the roads are dug up. —Varun Sheokand, Resident

“Though the matter was being pushed through various channels for the past two years, the authorities concerned have not been able to provide possession of the land as constructions, including fuel pumps, sewage pumping stations and encroachments (slum clusters) are yet to be removed from the 26-kilometre passage between Sector 37 and Sector 59 here,” said an official.

He further said frequent transfers of officials concerned had also been one of the factors as the HSVP had got four administrators in the past 24 months. Describing the slow work as an issue of concern, Varun Sheokand, a resident, said it had not only added to the commuting problems but also become a cause of air pollution as the roadsare dug up. Jitender Dahiya, Administrator, HSVP, said the work had been hampered by technical issues and legal hurdles. As many as 21 out of the total 26 kms has already been handed over to the agency. He said the rehabilitation of residents of sum clusters and alternate allotment of space to two CNG and one petrol pump was under process. “Removal of encroachments has been on hold in wake of a court ruling which has stayed it till August 31 in view of the Covid pandemic. The entire patch would be handed over by March 31 next.”

Starting from Ring Road-DND junction in New Delhi, the expressway costing Rs 3,580 crore, will pass through the Faridabad-Ballabgarh bypass to culminate at the interchange of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Mandkola village in Palwal.

Unfinished work by nodal agency

The Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), appointed as the nodal agency for handing over ROW by December 31 2020, has not been able to finish the job which includes removal of construction and encroachments existing in the passage. This has affected the pace of the work, claim sources in the district administration.

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