Kundli-Manesar expressway
EIL is constructing the Western Peripheral Expressway on a build-operate-transfer basis. Credit: abhinv.

The 83km-long section of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway in the Indian state of Haryana is set to open for traffic in October, ahead of the official completion date scheduled for February.

Currently under construction, the expressway is expected to divert more than 50,000 heavy vehicles away from Delhi.

KMP, which is also known as the Western Peripheral Expressway is being constructed by Essel Infraprojects (EIL), part of Essel Group on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

According to an estimate, the 83km stretch of the six-lane expressway has entailed an investment of Rs19.15bn ($263m).

“It will include 52 underpasses and 23 overpasses, four railway over-bridges, 18 other big and small bridges and two parking areas for trucks, in addition to 31 proposed cattle crossings.”

The total length of the expressway is approximately 135.6km. The 53km Manesar-Palwal section was inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari last year.

The highway will feature chain link fencing to avoid unauthorised entry and exit, as well as metal beam crash barriers for improved safety.

It will include 52 underpasses and 23 overpasses, four railway over-bridges, 18 other big and small bridges and two parking areas for trucks, in addition to 31 proposed cattle crossings.

An EIL spokesperson told the Indian Express: “The 83km-long Kundli-Manesar section of the Western Expressway was awarded to EIL on 24 August 2016. Working dedicatedly, EIL will be completing the project by October 2018, which is almost four months before the due deadline of 2 February 2019.”

All lanes on the expressway will feature LED / solar panel lighting, and rainwater harvesting every 500m on both sides.

Once completed, it will connect four National Highways, including NH1 near Kundli, NH 10 near Bahadurgarh, NH8 at Manesar, and NH2 near Palwal.