Work on Rs 68 cr four-laning project moving at slow pace in Faridabad

The work on the four-laning of the main link road between the city and the Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal Expressway is moving at a slow pace, causing inconvenience to commuters. The Rs 68 crore project is unlikely to be completed this year.

The 12-km project, connecting Ballabhgarh and Maujpur village located adjacent to the expressway on the eastern fringe of the district, was launched in mid-2024. However, the construction has been tardy due to various factors, including the suspension of work on account of payment, delay in release of funds, monsoon and issue of encroachments , according to sources in the district administration.

Undertaken by the Haryana State Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (HSRBDC), the project aims to improve connectivity between the city and the expressway by widening the road.

"The slow pace of work and half-constructed road is causing problems to commuters. Part of the stretch has either not been widened or metalled so far," says Varun Sheokand, a resident. A single lane and potholed patches pose a risk of accidents and break down of vehicles.

"With hardly any progress in the past few months, the majority of the stretch passes close to villages and is making it difficult for commuters," says Dheeraj Yadav, a resident of Mirzapur village.

Though the road is to be widened mainly between Chandawali village and Maujpur village, the problem remains acute near Machhgar village due to damaged patches and the half-built road.

"The expressway, which was expected to provide an alternative and easy route for the movement of trucks and heavy vehicles, has failed to serve the purpose due to the poor condition of this passage," says Jaswant Yadav of Chandawali village.

Rahul Singh, Executive Engineer, HSRBDC, said the work had been affected mainly by issues of encroachments on both sides of the passage. He said 70 per cent of the work was over and the project was expected to be completed by December, which was the deadline.