The biggest problem faced by the hordes of pilgrims and tourists coming to Haridwar and Rishikesh and other places of Garhwal region is the mounting pressure of traffic on the Delhi–Haridwar-Dehradun National Highway. However, things would be smoother for them with wider roads awaiting them in the coming days with Ardh Kumbh 2016 preparations being underway.
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had given clearance to the Era Infra Engineering ltd, a Noida-based company, and the district administration has nearly handed over the land for the project.
In an exclusive talk with The Pioneer, the AGM of Era Infra Engineering ltd. Rajesh Kumar Saini said that the project is being carried out under Private -Public Partnership (PPP) mode under the clause of Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) for 25 years under the supervision of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), a constituent body under the Ministry of Surface Transport. As per the estimates of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), about 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles ply over this national highway daily.
The technical manager of NHAI Suraj Gosain and manager of Era Infra laxman Sethi informed that the in- project roads will be of around 30 meters in width and would be divided into two phases. One is from Muzzafarnagar to Haridwar having total length of 80 kms involving estimated cost of Rs954 crore. The second one would be around 40 km from Haridwar to Dehradun involving an estimated cost of Rs440 crore. In the second phase, there would be three elevators each of approximate 400 meters in length with 10 pillars in each of the elevators.
First elevator would be from Singhdwar also known as Shradhanand Chowk to Premnagar Chowk. The second one would come up at Chandi Chowk and the last one would span from Doodh Dhari Chowk to Motichoor Chowk. Elevators are being constructed especially for the elephants and other animals to provide safe corridors for their movements and designed as Elephant Underpass (EUP). The project has been delayed for over six months due to land acquisition. It was to be completed by November-end 2014.