Delhi will get its proposed Eastern and Western Peripheral Corridors by 2018 after the Supreme Court, taking into account the grave health risk posed by increasing pollution levels in the Capital, directed the completion of the twin projects in three years.
With work having started on the dream corridors in year 2006, it is a sorry state of affairs on ground as construction is yet to commence on the 135-km long Eastern Corridor Expressway connecting Kundli and Palwal through Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Baghpat. The Court fixed the deadline of 2016 for the project although the National Highways Authority of India - the project proponent, informed the Court that work is likely to commence after six months. Even the tender process is yet to be finalised.
Senior advocate Indu Malhotra appearing for NHAI, sought revision of deadline suggesting that the project cost had shot up over the years leading to a fund crunch. The bench headed by Chief Justice Hl Dattu said, “We are not extending any timeline. If you don’t have funds then take a loan from World Bank or borrow money from the Centre. People and children are suffering because of pollution and the projects must be completed within this time.”
The Court while dealing with a separate PIl on rising pollution levels in Delhi also took into consideration a report by Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) headed by activist Bhure lal who showed proof of how pollution in the city peaked during night when it witnessed maximum movement of trucks and heavy vehicles. The EPCA even accused the Centre of downplaying pollution caused by vehicles in its latest affidavit by attributing major cause of pollution to road dust.
The work on Western Corridor Expressway has begun. The bench directed Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar to ensure the project gets completed within its deadline of 2018. Kumar informed the Court that 68 per cent of work was complete. The 135-kilometre long Western Expressway extends from Kundli in Haryana to Palwal via Manesar. It is being constructed by Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation.
The bench was critical of the slow pace of progress considering that the Court directed construction way back on February 11, 2005. Directing both NHAI and HSIDC to pull up its socks, the bench also comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Adarsh Goel said, “For the last ten years you did nothing. If you don’t want to implement our order then leave it us. We know how to get our order implemented.”
The two corridors were meant to decongest Delhi from the load of heavy moving trucks and inter-state containers which transited Delhi for want of any alternate route to travel between neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Court’s Green Bench that is monitoring the two projects even warned the authorities of contempt proceedings if they fail to implement its order.