Dwarka Expressway: India's First Elevated Highway

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated India's first-ever 8-lane elevated Dwarka Expressway on National Highway 48, marking a significant milestone in the nation's efforts to alleviate traffic congestion in Delhi. Here are the key highlights of this groundbreaking project:

Length and Cost: Spanning 29 km and constructed at a cost of INR 4,100 crore, the expressway incorporates underpasses, tunnels, elevated structures, and flyovers, all aimed at improving traffic flow between Delhi and Gurugram.

Geographical Distribution: Stretching across 18.9 km in Haryana and 10.1 km in Delhi, the expressway is poised to revolutionize commuting experiences for residents in the region.

Time-saving Benefits: With the expressway now operational, commuters can expect a significant reduction of at least 20 minutes in travel time between Delhi and Gurugram, leading to enhanced connectivity and operational efficiency.

Traffic Relief: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, emphasized that the new expressway will alleviate congestion on NH-48 and improve the quality of life for local residents.

Completion of UER-2: The imminent completion of Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-2 (UER-2) within two months is expected to reduce traffic towards Dhaula Kuan by 70 percent, resulting in a mere half-hour journey from Panipat to Delhi airport.

Environmental Considerations: Gadkari highlighted the project's eco-friendly approach, which includes incorporating 30,000 tons of waste into its construction, showcasing a commitment to sustainability.

Additionally:

The elevated portion of the Dwarka Expressway in Gurgaon, spanning 19 km with 8 lanes, features a unique single-pier construction. This design minimizes land requirements for the expressway and accommodates the city's high-volume traffic with broader service roads. The expressway's layout prohibits any development along its path, and access is restricted to specific entry points.

Providing a direct connection to IGI's Terminal 3, the expressway includes a 2.3 km tunnel linking Mahipalpur to T3. A 500 m segment of the tunnel near the airport is designed to be blastproof.

The 10.1 km-long expressway in Delhi, connected to Basai in Haryana, features an 8.6 km-long elevated section with an 8-lane main carriageway. Key features include traffic signal-free lanes, cycle tracks, vehicular underpasses, elevated service roads at major junctions, subways, footpaths, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge facilities. Notably, it boasts the widest railway-over-bridge with 16 lanes and one of the longest 'bow spring steel bridges' at 125 m.