Residents meet Gadkari over delay in Dwarka expressway

GURUGRAM: Concerned over the delay in construction of two phases of Dwarka Expressway on the Delhi side, local residents met Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday and requested him to resolve the issue of felling of over 13,000 trees coming in the alignment of the high-speed corridor.
The Delhi government has not yet given permission for the felling of 13,700 trees for the Dwarka Expressway project. Gadkari, however, spoke to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to find a quicker way out so that work could start. “Arvind Kejriwal has assured he will expedite the case,” a highway ministry official said on Thursday.

Speaking to TOI, Syed Samir, executive member of the Dwarka Expressway Welfare Association (DXPWA), said both the Union minister and Kejriwal were very supportive. “Given their responses, we are hopeful that the issue pertaining to tree felling for this project will be resolved soon,” he said. Gadkari, residents said, assured them that his office will follow up the issue with the Delhi government.

Prakhar Sahay, a resident of Dwarka, said, “We get stuck in traffic jams daily on NH-48 while commuting from Delhi to Gurugram. Once the Dwarka Expressway becomes functional, it will save time and fuel both. I’m eagerly awaiting for work to be started on the Delhi side of the expressway.”

TOI has learnt that the Delhi forest department was initially not satisfied with areas allocated by the Delhi Development Authority for compensatory afforestation of 13 hectares in lieu of the tree to be cut. On August 21, the forest department said that certain patches of the land in question was categorised as “forest” and protected under the forest conservation Act of 1980.

“The forest department requested compensatory afforestation land of 13 hectares in lieu of the 13,700 trees being cut. The National Highways Authority of India is still working on a plan for the same,” said an official.