Gurgaon: Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday directed NHAI officials to work on an action plan to make the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway accident-free and ensure that pending work on the stretch are completed soon.
The directions were issued in a meeting between the minister, NHAI officials and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh held on Wednesday.
According to the data released by Safer Roads for Gurugram, an online dashboard launched by Gadkari last year, a total of 133 road accidents on the expressway have claimed 58 lives in the last three years.
Road safety experts agreed on the need for a plan to reduce accidents on the stretch. “First and foremost is the need for a service road through the Delhi-Jaipur national highway, because it passes through large pockets of settlements. Moreover, underpasses should be constructed for the easy flow of local traffic. Speed enforcement cameras should be installed at every 2-3km and those violating speed limits should be penalised. Many commuters drive on the wrong side. If a service road is constructed, this problem would be resolved,” said S Velumugran, principal scientist at Central Road Research Institute.
Another road safety expert, Sarika Panda Bhatt, cited no pedestrian facility, poor design and speeding as the reasons for the high number of accidents. “We need to provide pedestrian facilities along the expressway. We can’t treat this as a highway since it is passing through the middle of the city. We need to develop this as an urban street,” Bhatt added.
NHAI officials said Gadkari also instructed them to prepare a list of pending works on the expressway and complete all technical and financial formalities.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was also discussed in the meeting. NHAI officials said it will be completed by 2021 and its construction will further reduce the burden of vehicles on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway.
On the long-pending demand of Manesar residents, Gurgaon MP Singh raised the issue of the construction of an elevated flyover in the area. The project has been in limbo for several months now. Singh said the national highway passes through Manesar and poses a great risk to residents of the area, as they have to cross the road for moving from one side to other. NHAI officials said that the project’s budget is under discussion and the project will be initiated soon.
The directions were issued in a meeting between the minister, NHAI officials and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh held on Wednesday.
According to the data released by Safer Roads for Gurugram, an online dashboard launched by Gadkari last year, a total of 133 road accidents on the expressway have claimed 58 lives in the last three years.
Road safety experts agreed on the need for a plan to reduce accidents on the stretch. “First and foremost is the need for a service road through the Delhi-Jaipur national highway, because it passes through large pockets of settlements. Moreover, underpasses should be constructed for the easy flow of local traffic. Speed enforcement cameras should be installed at every 2-3km and those violating speed limits should be penalised. Many commuters drive on the wrong side. If a service road is constructed, this problem would be resolved,” said S Velumugran, principal scientist at Central Road Research Institute.
Another road safety expert, Sarika Panda Bhatt, cited no pedestrian facility, poor design and speeding as the reasons for the high number of accidents. “We need to provide pedestrian facilities along the expressway. We can’t treat this as a highway since it is passing through the middle of the city. We need to develop this as an urban street,” Bhatt added.
NHAI officials said Gadkari also instructed them to prepare a list of pending works on the expressway and complete all technical and financial formalities.
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was also discussed in the meeting. NHAI officials said it will be completed by 2021 and its construction will further reduce the burden of vehicles on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway.
On the long-pending demand of Manesar residents, Gurgaon MP Singh raised the issue of the construction of an elevated flyover in the area. The project has been in limbo for several months now. Singh said the national highway passes through Manesar and poses a great risk to residents of the area, as they have to cross the road for moving from one side to other. NHAI officials said that the project’s budget is under discussion and the project will be initiated soon.
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app