To address the ever-growing traffic congestion menace in the capital, the government has decided to decongest the city with a six-lane project worth Rs 28.20 billion. Recently, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for the development of a six-lane, access controlled corridor from Akshardham in East Delhi to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway junction on Baghpat Road.
The 31.3 km road stretch is part of NH-709B that will run from Akshardham to Saharanpur Bypass. The alignment of the road will be from Akshardham - Geeta Colony – Shastri Park – Khazuri Khas-Delhi/UP border-Mandola-EPE Intersection. It will be developed in two phases –a 14.75 km stretch from Akshardham to Delhi/UP border and the other 16.57 km stretch from Delhi/UP border to EPE Intersection. There will be a 19 km elevated section
The project includes construction of 3+3 lane service roads on either side of the highway, eight new underpasses, seven ramps connecting major roads, 15 major junctions, 34 minor junctions, and over-bridges at Delhi-Shahdara, New Delhi-Anand Vihar railway lines and Dilshad Garden-ISBT Metro Line. The high-speed signal-free corridor is expected to contribute to decongestion and a considerable reduction in pollution levels in Delhi NCR.