NHAI increases the distance between Delhi & Meerut expressway

As it embarks on an ambitious plan to construct highways to criss-cross the country, government may be making people pay more by getting them to travel longer on a tolled road.

This is evident from the way the proposed alignment of Delhi-Meerut expressway has been finalized. As per details available , NHAI had carried out a feasibility study and detailed project report to improve connectivity between the two cities by widening a portion of NH-58 from Delhi border upto Hindon river, and a new 4-lane road between Hindon and Meerut bypassing Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar, which could come to 44km. Later, it was decided to construct a 66km expressway instead.

Minutes issued by the highways ministry in August, October and December 2008 and March 2009 suggest that transport secretary Brahm Dutt constantly pushed for the new alignment. After initial resistance, NHAI acquiesced but not without putting its reservations on record. An NHAI note on April 2, 2008 suggests that it was all set to start work on the widening. "The alignment for 6-laning of Delhi-Meerut section of NH-58 has already been finalized." It also submitted that the environment ministry clearance for the alignment had been received.

Dutt told that the feasibility study of the expressway was still on and the alignment had not been finalized.

NHAI had engaged a consultant in June 2006 to prepare the feasibility studies for widening of the Delhi-Meerut section of NH-58 and, subsequently, in September 2007 for new alignment options under National Highways Development Plan (NHDP) Phase 3. The feasibility study continued even after the Union Cabinet decided to construct a New Delhi-Meerut expressway as part of 1,100km expressway network.

The plan for the widening of the existing National Highway was dropped in June 2008 after Brahm Dutt has taken over as secretary, with the ministry saying that it would take up the expressway plan as the priority. The ministry also pressed for a new alignment— from Meerut Ring Road to Delhi via Dasna on NH-24 using the existing Dasna to Nizamuddin Bridge.

When asked for his response, the secretary said, "The consultant submitted alignment options for the expressway and the most logical and technically viable option was finalized." He denied that the government had, as indicated by the minutes of meetings on the project, pushed for a particular alignment. He claimed that the minutes didn't represent orders.

However, the minutes mentioned "we can straightaway take it up", clearly bringing out the preference. Further, they show that on December 23, 2008, the secretary said that the "alignment of the expressway should pass through Dasna inter-change of NH-24 and Eastern Peripheral Expressway as well as the end point of the expressway should not be changed."

Even the argument of the ministry that no final decision on alignment has been taken, does not appear to be convincing. For, through the Gazette notification issued on November 24, government had even moved for the appointment of competent authority for acquisition of land.