Traffic movement begins on Delhi-Mumbai E-way stretch, despite no official inauguration

The movement of traffic, especially private vehicles, has begun unofficially on the Rs 1,729 crore, 24-km stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway passing through the city. The e-way is yet to be opened formally, or declared fit for movement. Undergoing finishing work, the e-way is expected to be inaugurated next month.

The passage, known as package-two of the e-way, connects the Delhi border and Kailgoan in the district.

Though the work on this stretch was started in August 2021 with the deadline of 24 months, it is yet to officially be made ready for traffic movement, according to sources in the district administration.

Package-three, between Kailgaon and Khalilpur near Sohna, has been functional since May 2023.

The movement of traffic on this stretch has been enabled by the entry and exit points remaining open to provide access to the vehicles of the contracting agency engaged in finishing work at some spots on the stretch, according to sources.

“The work of lighting, sign boards and painting has been on, and it is likely to go on for the next two to three weeks before it is fully ready for operations,” said an official, on the condition of anonymity.

Regarding the movement of vehicles on the unfinished e-way as wrong and risky, Satinder Singh, a lawyer, said the unregulated movement of vehicles on this stretch posed a risk to commuters as the vehicles moved at high speeds here.

Rakesh Jain, a resident, claimed that wrong-side driving on the e-way and its service roads had emerged as a major menace, as there was hardly any regulation by the police or any other authority.

The authorities have been worried about certain issues pertaining to this stretch of the e-way, including a petrol pump occupying the Right of Way(ROW) on a service road, as the issue has run into legal hurdles. While the main carriage way is of six lanes, the service road is of three lanes on both sides.

Kamal Kant, an official of the NHAI, said the matter was being pursued with the local authorities. However, a spokesperson of the Police Department said no complaint had surfaced so far.