The Government of India has opened the 14-lane access-controlled Phase-I of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway located in the Delhi NCR region.

Inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 8.36km-long Phase-I of the project stretches from Nizamuddin Bridge to the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

This first phase was completed in 18 months involving a cost of nearly Rs8.41bn ($124.9m).

It comprises a six-lane expressway and eight service lanes, making it a 14-lane facility.

“Once completed, the project will facilitate connectivity between Delhi and Meerut, as well as to the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.”

The section features a 2.5m-wide cycle track on both sides of the highway, a vertical garden on the Yamuna Bridge, as well as a solar lighting system.

The complete Delhi-Meerut Expressway project will stretch 82km, with the first 27.74km featuring the 14-lane expressway and the remaining segment comprising six lanes.

Once completed, the project will facilitate connectivity between Delhi and Meerut, as well as the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Overall, it will see the construction of 11 flyovers / interchanges, five major and 24 minor bridges, three rail over bridges, as well as 36 vehicular and 14 pedestrian underpasses.

The entire project is estimated to cost Rs49.75bn ($738.97m) and will be delivered in four phases.

In addition to this project, the Prime Minister also opened the 135km-long Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), which extends from Kundli to Palwal connecting National Highway 1 and 2.

The EPE project is designed to divert traffic that is not travelling to Delhi, reducing congestion and pollution in India’s capital region.