Constructed in a record 500 days instead of targeted 910 days, India’s first smart and green highway, the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), is all set to open for public on April 29.
The ambitious project will divert an estimated 52,000 trucks passing through the national Capital daily to this bypass, helping in curtailing the level of air pollution in Delhi. “According to a study, there will be 27.48 per cent reduction in air pollution level in Delhi after the expressway becomes operational,” said a senior NHAI official.
Once operational, it will provide connectivity among Sonipat, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar (Greater Noida), Faridabad and Palwal without the need to pass through Delhi, thus helping decongest the national Capital.
The 135-km six-lane expressway constructed at a cost of Rs 4617.87 crore is equipped with electronic toll collection system (ETC) to avoid jam at toll plazas, and smart and intelligent highway traffic management system (HTMS). Also, it will have solar power panels for lighting, drip irrigation on entire expressway for watering plants and video incident detection system (VIDS), CCTVs, over speed checking system besides a closed tolling system in which the collections will be made only on the distance travelled and not on the entire length. Chief General Manager of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Dr B S Singla said the expressway is the first of its kind in the country with solar power installation to light the entire stretch of expressway, including 221 vehicular and pedestrian underpasses.
Singla said there are eight solar power plants on this expressway having a total capacity of 4,000 kilowatt (4 MW) besides solar pumps that are also being used for watering the plants.
Neeraj Verma, member of NHAI, said despite facing difficulties in levelling the surface (earth work), we worked day and night and completed it in 500 days. “The project faced numerous land acquisition related hurdles, however, with the efforts of Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry and NHAI officials the issues were shorted out in very short time,” he said.
Verma said the project was expedited after constructing a railway over bridge (ROB) in record 100 days. “It was considered the main bottleneck in accomplishing the project on time. Usually in India, it takes more than two years to complete ROB,” he said.
Also, he said keeping safety of the travellers in mind, there are cameras installed to capture over speeding vehicles. “In case of violation of speed limit that is 120 km for cars and 100 km for other vehicles, automatic challan would be generated and the violator will have to pay the fine at the exit gate,” he said.
Also, he said an ambulance vehicle will be available at every 25 km and in case of any emergency, commuters can also call on helpline number 1033 for quick action.
The NHAI has also constructed replica of 36 monuments, representing the entire nation. Some of the these monuments are Jaliyawala Bagh, Ashoka Chakra, Gateway of India, lal Quila, India Gate and Hawa Mahal. Petrol pumps, restaurants, shops, motels and rest rooms are among other facilities that are being developed, the official said.
The official said 2, 60,296 trees have been planted out of which avenue plantation is 1, 87,510 and median plantation is 72,786. “The plantation has been done in such a way that after every km the colour of the flower will change,” he said.
To beautify the expressway, 40 fountains have also been installed on interchanges, toll plazas and bridges.