GHAZIABAD: Construction work on the second phase of the NH-24 widening project commenced on Tuesday. It will cover a 19.2km-long stretch of the highway from UP Gate till Dasna toll plaza, and is located entirely within Ghaziabad. The first phase, which covers the stretch from Nizam-ud-din Bridge till UP Gate, is expected to be completed by January 2018.
A sum of Rs 1,989 crore has been allocated by the Union surface transport ministry for the second phase of the project. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will construct a total of 17 underpasses and one flyover along the stretch of the highway in Ghaziabad as part of the project. The existing stretch, which is a four-lane double carriageway, will be widened to 14 lanes.
"Construction has been planned in such a manner as to completely avoid vehicular jams. Work will be undertaken in several phases within this particular stretch. Each phase will include construction of three to four underpasses. We will construct three additional lanes on either side of the highway first in each phase, " NHAI project director RP Singh told TOI.
"Construction on the existing four lanes will be undertaken after we divert traffic through the newly-constructed lanes on each side," Singh added.
The NHAI has set itself the target of June 2019 for completion of the second phase. The extended Ghazipur flyover, which is located on Delhi-Ghaziabad border at the intersection of stretches covered under phases 1 and 2 of the widening project, will be wholly commissioned by December-end.
At present, only three lanes of the 14-lane Ghazipur flyover have been opened for vehicular movement from Delhi towards UP. By the end of November, another four lanes of the carriageway from Delhi to UP will be opened for vehicular traffic. "The seven lanes on the other carriageway of the flyover will be opened by the end of December 2017. It will bring the entire traffic mess at UP Gate to an end," said Singh.
A sum of Rs 1,989 crore has been allocated by the Union surface transport ministry for the second phase of the project. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will construct a total of 17 underpasses and one flyover along the stretch of the highway in Ghaziabad as part of the project. The existing stretch, which is a four-lane double carriageway, will be widened to 14 lanes.
"Construction has been planned in such a manner as to completely avoid vehicular jams. Work will be undertaken in several phases within this particular stretch. Each phase will include construction of three to four underpasses. We will construct three additional lanes on either side of the highway first in each phase, " NHAI project director RP Singh told TOI.
"Construction on the existing four lanes will be undertaken after we divert traffic through the newly-constructed lanes on each side," Singh added.
The NHAI has set itself the target of June 2019 for completion of the second phase. The extended Ghazipur flyover, which is located on Delhi-Ghaziabad border at the intersection of stretches covered under phases 1 and 2 of the widening project, will be wholly commissioned by December-end.
At present, only three lanes of the 14-lane Ghazipur flyover have been opened for vehicular movement from Delhi towards UP. By the end of November, another four lanes of the carriageway from Delhi to UP will be opened for vehicular traffic. "The seven lanes on the other carriageway of the flyover will be opened by the end of December 2017. It will bring the entire traffic mess at UP Gate to an end," said Singh.
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