Chandigarh, Feb 23 (IANS) Having suffered a delay of nearly five years due to various factors, the 136-km Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway project may finally be completed with the Haryana government approving resumption of work on the stalled project.
"Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has given his approval for resuming work on the project in two phases. While the Manesar-Palwal section would be completed in nine months, the Manesar-Kundli section would be completed in two years," a spokesman of the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructural Development Corporation (HSIIDC), which is the executing agency of the project, said here Monday.
The Supreme Court had Jan 30 directed the Haryana government to award the contract for the project to a new concessionaire within two months. The new concessionaire will have to commence work within a month's time, the spokesman said.
The construction work on the six-lane expressway, slated to pass through five districts in Haryana - Sonipat, Jhajjar, Gurgaon, Mewat and Palwal - was stalled following certain issues with the concessionaire which was constructing it.
The project, launched with much fanfare by the previous Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has been delayed much beyond its completion deadline of December 2009.
The crucial project was being executed by M/s KMP Expressways Ltd., a consortium of DSC Ltd. and Apollo Enterprises.
The concessionaire was accused by the Hooda government of missing completion deadlines repeatedly.
The concessionaire alleged that the government had failed to acquire land for the project in time leading to cost escalation. Less than 65 percent of the project had been completed till October 2011.
The Haryana government, after repeated warnings, invoked the penalty clause against the concessionaire which approached the Supreme Court.
The spokesman said completion of the project would not only provide high-speed link to northern Haryana with its southern districts like Gurgaon, Faridabad and Palwal, but also de-congest the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
Khattar had earlier made it clear that hindrances coming in the way of construction of the KMP Expressway were being removed and work on the project would start soon.
The KMP expressway will ease the inflow of traffic, especially heavy vehicles like trucks, passing through the national capital.
The significance of the expressway is not only that it will connect four major national highways (NH), NH-1 (Delhi-Ambala-Amritsar), NH-2 (Delhi-Agra-Varanasi-Dankuni), NH-8 (Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai) and NH-10 (Delhi-Hisar-Fazilka-Pakistan border), but will significantly reduce the traffic from north Indian states to central, western and south India and vice versa.
Thousands of vehicles, especially trucks, which now pass through New Delhi, will be able to bypass the national capital once the KMP expressway is completed.
Originally slated to be completed in November 2009, the nearly Rs.19 billion (Rs.1,900 crore) expressway missed several deadlines.
Corona Update: 18,375 new cases in the last 24 hours; Newly infected in Kerala decreased by 11%, but recorded the highest number of deaths
There is a slight decrease in the cases of corona since the last day. On Thursday, 18,375 new cases of corona have been reported, while 37 infected people died. Compared to the previous day, 525 fewer
Amazon India chief summoned for donation to All India Mission, NCPCR orders to appear before November 1
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned the Global Senior Vice President and 'Country Head' of Amazon India in connection with the alleged financial assistance to
Modi meets Jinping in Bali: Both leaders shake hands during dinner, separate talks expected
The G20 summit began on Tuesday in Bali, Indonesia. Food and Energy Security were discussed in the first session. In this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted on stopping the Ukraine-Russia war. In
Fight in flight coming from Bangkok to India: Passenger did not obey the safety rules, then the rest of the passengers got angry, FIR registered
The reason behind a brawl between passengers on a Thai Smile Airways flight from Bangkok to India has come to light. According to the airline's report, the passenger sitting in seat 37C got into an
Haryana leaders stumped by SC ruling on Jat quota
Chandigarh, March 17 (IANS) Leaders in Haryana treaded cautiously after the Supreme Court quashed the reservation for Jats on Tuesday.Leaders of various parties said they would first examine the apex
Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Fuel becomes costlier for the third time in a month; the US will help to get out of the economic crisis
Sri Lanka again hiked fuel prices on Sunday. For the third time in a month, the government has increased the rates of fuel. Meanwhile, America has also become active to get Sri Lanka out of the
Attention 18 to 59 years old: Get a booster dose of corona for free, understand where and how; If you are late you will not get free service
People in the age group of 18 to 59 years can get a booster dose of corona for free. The country is going to celebrate the 75th anniversary of independence this year. In such a situation, a campaign
KVS Admission 2022: Delhi High Court said – Delhi cannot have two different types of schools for the same education
On fixing the minimum age of 6 years for admission to Class I in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS Admission 2022) from the upcoming session, the Delhi High Court on Monday said that there are no two different
US looks at India to deal with China, will increase defense partnership; made a big plan
America is now looking towards India to deal with Chinese aggression. It is reported that the government led by President Joe Biden is preparing to take forward the defense partnership with India.
DC vs MI Dream 11 Prediction: Delhi or Mumbai, who will taste the first victory, playing 11 of both the teams will be like this
In the first week of IPL 2023, the teams of Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, who proved to be the worst, will take the field against each other on Tuesday night. Delhi has scored a hat-trick of
