The Hindu : New Delhi News : Expressway, by-pass for Delhi a distant dream

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Expressway, by-pass for Delhi a distant dream

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 11. Despite the best efforts of the Environment and Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) and directions of the Supreme Court, construction of an expressway, by-pass in and around Delhi remains a "distant dream'' due to adamant and indifferent attitude of the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments. EPCA has filed a status report with the Supreme Court seeking necessary directions to speed up the process and make everyone fall in line as otherwise it would defeat the very purpose of decongesting Delhi.

The Supreme Court on March 8 this year had directed that the National Highway Authority of India be treated as the nodal agency for construction of a bypass and expressway around Delhi. It had also asked for a schedule for completion of the proposed bypass and expressway and asked for a report to be submitted within four weeks by the nodal agency. The matter is now scheduled to come up for hearing on October 1. "In view of the rigid attitude of the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Governments, we have been left with no other option but to approach the court for necessary directions to put in place this project within a stipulated deadline,'' remarked Sunita Narain, Director of the Centre for Science and Environment and member EPCA.

It is understood that EPCA has informed the court that UP and Haryana continue to maintain they do not have the money to pay for the land acquisition costs. On the other hand, Delhi has agreed to pay for the costs in the portion of the expressway that will pass through the State. According to the officials, the Build-Operate-and-Transfer (BOT) arrangement requires governments to pay for land acquisition costs and make land available without encumbrance to the contractor. The Central Government has left this issue unresolved and has vaguely said "in case there is any requirement of grant or subsidy, the same shall be arranged by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), subject to assurance of additionality by the Ministry of Urban Development.''

It has also pointed out that the schedule given for completion of the project - five and a half years - from a hypothetical date, when the finances will be sorted out, will defeat the very objective to decongest Delhi.

It is understood that EPCA has prayed to the court to direct UP and Haryana to pay for the land acquisition costs so as to expedite the project or allow the shorter alignment of the Western Expressway of which around 60-65 km, would remain touching Delhi's boundary. The advantage of this alignment is that a pre-feasibility plan has been prepared and the Delhi Government is willing to bear the cost of land acquisition for this stretch. The re-alignment would have to be made for the Asola Bhatti wildlife areas so that the expressway does not go through the sanctuary.

However, it has stated that this is not EPCA's preferred option, but it is constrained to make this suggestion as it is finding little willingness on the part of the different agencies to resolve issues and expedite the work. It has also sought a direction that the project be completed within a tight schedule of 2-3 years as the outside limit and also ensure that NHAI remains the nodal agency, as it would facilitate the role of the Central Government in resolving and expediting issues involved.

As far as the Eastern Peripheral Expressway is concerned, Haryana and UP have made it clear that they will not be in a position to bear the cost of land acquisition. The cost for this 100-odd km stretch has been estimated at Rs. 2,079 crores, of which land acquisition cost is Rs. 368 crores. The plan for the Western Peripheral Expressway -- original alignment -- has been estimated by Rs. 1,800 crores with Rs. 700 crores to be paid as land acquisition costs. The Delhi Government has agreed to pay for the costs of land acquisition through the State (roughly 60-65 km), while Haryana has said that it would not be able to pay for the costs of land acquisition.

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