Delhi chokes on smog: Respite in offing as PM Modi likely to inaugurate new strech of peripheral expressway soon
The air quality in the national capital may get some respite in near future as the new stretch of peripheral expressway, which allows heavy vehicles to bypass Delhi, is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi within a few days.
Sharing the information about the inauguration of the 136-km Kundli-Maneser-Palwal (KMP) expressway, PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh said that the ceremony may be held on November 17 or 18. The decision was taken during a meeting between Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Prime Minister Modi on Saturday, he informed on Monday.
A 54-km stretch of the 135.6-km KMP Expressway between Maneser and Palwal is already operational since 2015, but its 83.6 km stretch between Kundli and Maneser ran into land acquisition hurdles, delaying the project.
Singh said the prime minister is likely to inaugurate the expressway at Manesar where he would also address a rally on the occasion.
Once the KMP expressway is thrown open, heavy vehicles will get access to various industrial towns like Maneser, Sohna, Dharuhera, Bawal and Bhiwadi in Haryana without entering Delhi. The expressway will cut down the distance between various northern and western states, along with cutting down carbon emissions in the national capital.
Earlier in May this year, PM Modi inaugurated the 135-km Expressway, which envisages signal-free connectivity between Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gautam Budh Nagar (Greater Noida) and Palwal.
The Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways were planned in 2006 following the top court’s order to build a ring road outside the national capital for channelling non-Delhi bound traffic.
Delhi has been suffering with season's worst air quality, key reasons being stubble burning, fire crackers and vehicle emission.
(With inputs from agencies)
