The government will take up ₹50,000-crore projects to decongest Delhi that is battling with the twin problem of air and water pollution, said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari was addressing an event here after laying the foundation stone for a ₹2,820-crore highway corridor project that will link Akshardham to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway junction on Baghpat Road.

Signal-free corridor

The high-speed signal-free 31.3-km corridor is expected to contribute to decongestion and a considerable reduction in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.

“Delhi is facing the problem of air and water pollution. There are frequent traffic jams. We have taken a decision to start work on ₹50,000-crore highway projects to decongest it,” Mr. Gadkari said.

He said the foundation stone for Dwarka Expressway, to be built at a cost of ₹10,000 crore, will be laid next week and time has been sought from PM Narendra Modi for this. The Minister announced that the work on Delhi-Meerut Expressway will be completed by March, and April onwards, people can reach Meerut from Delhi in 40 minutes instead of the current three-and-a-half hours.

Listing various projects for Delhi, the Minister also said a new ring road — Urban Extension Road — will be constructed at a cost of ₹4,000 crore.

He said that the pollution level has reduced significantly in Delhi after several projects including the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

Mr. Gadkari was accompanied by Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh.