Parrikar approves plan to decongest Delhi's Dhaula Kuan

NEW DELHI: Paving the way for making the

Dhaula Kuan stretch

of NH-8 signal free, defence ministry on Thursday gave in-principle approval to provide required land and permission to carry out works, including construction of two underpasses.

“Defence minister Manohar Parrikar has given the approval. Now we will expedite the work to bring relief to commuters,” road transport minister Nitin Gadkari.

The issue relating to defence land came up for discussion at the fourth meeting of group of infrastructure ministers, which was attended by Union ministers Suresh Prabhu and Prakash Javadekar.

An NHAI official said, “The detailed project report for two underpasses and two U-turns besides junction improvement is under preparation. As soon as we complete them these will be shared with the department of defence.”

Sources said since both the underpasses at Cariappa Marg crossing and Parade Road crossing won’t be too long the execution may take less than a year. They said this would bring quick relief to commuters if additional land is made available for traffic coming from Janakpuri side to

Dhaula Kuan

turning left and from RR Hospital side to Gurgaon.

The decongestion project will also include removal of two cuts between Dhaula Kuan Metro station and Parade Road crossing. There is a proposal to provide two U-truns, one at Cariappa Marg crossing and another at Parade Road crossing.