KMP to miss August deadline too, could take 3 more months

GURUGRAM: The stretch of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway (also known as the Western Peripheral Expressway), between Kundli and Manesar, is likely to miss the August 15 deadline announced by the government, said sources. Several government representatives, including PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh, have recently announced that the expressway would be inaugurated on August 15.
According to sources within Haryana State Industry and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), least 30% of the project is still incomplete, and is unlikely to be completed by August 15. “While work of carpeting is pending over a major stretch, at several places even the structures aren’t in place yet. It’s unlikely the project will be finished by August 15,” said a HSIIDC official, requesting anonymity.

He added work was continuing at the site, but not with the urgency needed, and at its current pace, the 83km-stretch will take at least three months more to finish. “The project is anyway running ahead of schedule, as the official date of completion is March 2019. If we rush it too much, we might end up compromising construction quality, which would pose a grave danger,” said the official.

While the official launch date of the Kundli-Manesar portion of the expressway is March 2019, the Khattar government has announced several deadlines for early completion of the project, which it has failed to meet. The chief minister had earlier announced the project would be completed by March 31.

The launch date was then pushed further. The total distance of the expressway is 135.6km. The 53km Manesar-Palwal stretch was inaugurated by Union minister Nitin Gadkari last year.

The expressway cuts across four national highways — NH 1, NH 2, NH 8 and NH 10, and has 52 underpasses and 23 overpasses, along with 31 proposed cattle crossings, four railway over-bridges, 18 other big and small bridges and two parking areas for trucks.

Rao Narbir said, “KMP is not opening on August 15. My announcement was based on information provided by officials. I’ll be able to comment on a new date after meeting the CM in a couple of day.”