New Delhi, Aug 17 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch two significant highway initiatives today, namely the Delhi portions of the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) and the Dwarka Expressway, valued at Rs 11,000 crore. This move aims to tackle persistent traffic issues in the national capital and enhance connectivity across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The official inauguration will take place in Rohini, northwest Delhi, as announced by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday.

"These projects embody Prime Minister Modi's vision for world-class infrastructure that guarantees smooth mobility," the PMO stated.

Officials anticipate that these new routes will significantly decrease travel durations, redirect freight traffic away from the city center, and relieve congestion on Delhi's Inner and Outer Ring Roads.

The flagship project, the 54.21km stretch of UER-II, spans from Alipur through Bawana, Rohini, Mundka, Bakkarwala, Najafgarh, and Dwarka to Dichaon Kalan, costing Rs 5,580 crore.

This six-lane highway, envisioned as Delhi's third ring road under the Delhi Master Plan Road 2021, will include new connections to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat.

The corridor is expected to alleviate traffic on Delhi's Inner and Outer Ring Roads and at congested spots like Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, and NH-9.

The new links will enhance industrial connectivity, ease city traffic, and accelerate goods transport throughout the NCR.

As per government projections, travel time from Indira Gandhi International Airport to various locations in southwest and northwest Delhi will be reduced by 40 to 60 percent.

Officials believe that the route will facilitate quicker commutes for travelers between Chandigarh, Gurugram, and Delhi's IGI Airport.

Phased openings have already benefited areas like Najafgarh, Mundka, and Alipur, enhancing access to previously undeveloped regions like Karala, Alipur, and Bawana.

The new route will provide faster access to south Delhi, Noida, and Faridabad, while also improving linkages to Dwarka, Mahipalpur, and Vasant Kunj.

The entire UER-II project spans 76km — 54.21km in Delhi and 21.5km in Haryana — with a total construction budget of Rs 8,000 crore.

Designated as a national highway, the project is being executed by the National Highways Authority of India in five segments, with the Delhi Development Authority financing the capital's portion.

The second project involves a 10.1km stretch of the Dwarka Expressway, developed at a cost of Rs 5,360 crore.

This bypass of the NH-48 Delhi-Gurugram Expressway includes an underpass near the airport, providing direct access from the IGI Airport to UER-II, Gurugram, and Dwarka.

The bypass will create a direct route to Yashobhoomi in Dwarka's Sector 25 and will also facilitate multi-modal connectivity to Delhi Metro's Blue and Orange Lines, the forthcoming Bijwasan railway station, and the Dwarka cluster bus depot.

Construction of the Dwarka Expressway has already shortened travel durations for areas in the capital such as Dwarka, Mahipalpur, Vasant Kunj, and Najafgarh, enhancing access to Gurugram and critical locations like the IGI Airport.

The Delhi section consists of two segments: 5.9km from the Shiv Murti intersection near the airport to Dwarka Sector 21, and 4.2km from Sector 21 to the Delhi-Haryana border. This route features a tunnel to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow.

The 19km Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on March 11, 2024, with the entire 28km corridor constructed at a cost of Rs 8,611 crore.

Construction has embraced environmental initiatives, utilizing two million tonnes of waste from the Ghazipur landfill in UER-II development, thereby reducing the landfill height by seven metres.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized this during election campaigning for the Delhi Assembly earlier this year.

"We are employing inert materials recovered through biomining of legacy waste for highway construction to foster sustainable infrastructure," an NHAI official stated.

"These inert materials such as soil, silt, stones, and construction debris are stable and apt for embankment filling, subgrade layering, and service roads," the official added.

The inert material is also being utilized for other projects, including the DND-Faridabad Bailabgarh Sohna bypass, aimed at minimizing landfill volume, conserving natural resources, and reducing construction costs and carbon emissions.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with senior officials and party leaders, visited the inauguration site on Saturday to oversee preparations and provided necessary directives.

She characterized the projects as a "historic gift" for the city.

"The initiation of UER-II will play a crucial role in alleviating congestion, enhancing the industrial corridor network, and reducing vehicular pollution, thereby contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment," CM Gupta remarked.

"UER-II is not merely an infrastructure project; it represents an investment in Delhi's future. It will significantly improve traffic flow, drastically reduce travel times, and enhance the quality of life for thousands residing in Delhi and NCR," she added.

She also stressed the long-distance connectivity that UER-II will provide, stating that the route will integrate with the Delhi-Jaipur national highway, KMP Expressway, and the Gurugram-Sohna Highway, which links to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

"Travel to Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Jaipur, and even Mumbai will become quicker and more convenient. This project is genuinely transformative," she added.

"With this network, UER-II will become the backbone of high-speed connectivity, linking Delhi not only with NCR but with the entire nation," CM Gupta declared.

These initiatives are part of the government's larger strategy to decongest the national capital, although transportation specialists have previously raised concerns regarding whether new roads offer enduring relief or merely transfer bottlenecks to alternate locations.