Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday inspected the National Highway-8 stretch from Rajiv Chowk in Gurgaon to Manesar, taking stock problems on the highway. Gadkari was accompanied by Minister of State for Defence, Planning, Statistics and Programme Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh and Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Krishan Pal Gujjar. Speaking at the Delhi-Gurgaon border at the entry point of the highway, Gadkari said, “The condition of this stretch is not good. We have taken four important decisions to improve it. They will be implemented soon.” Emphasising the need to speed up work on NH-8, Gujjar said, “All works under progress on Pink City Expressway from Delhi to Jaipur will completed by June 2015 so that travelling time is reduced significantly,” He said problems arising out of construction of flyovers and underpasses on the Haryana portion of the expressway would be discussed with Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The ministers also announced that underpasses on the stretch will be constructed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) but the cost would be borne by the Municipal Corporation Gurgaon. These include underpasses planned at three crossings on NH-8 — Signature Tower, IFFCO Chowk and Rajiv Chowk. “A flyover at Hero Honda Chowk will be constructed and the cost will be borne by both the Centre and the Haryana government. The flyover will spare the commuters of an eight-kilometre drive required to take a U-turn on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway. Construction of the flyover was delayed due to the previous government’s non-serious approach. What has not been done for years will be done in 12 months,” Gurgaon MP said. In June this year, the Haryana government transferred about 8 acres of Haryana Urban Development Authority land to NHAI for an eight-lane flyover along the Delhi-Jaipur Highway at Hero Honda Chowk. According to officials, the flyover would be constructed at Rs 100 crore. Taking note of delayed construction of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway, the ministers said the government would terminate the contract of the current contractor. Officials said the project will mostly be given to the NHAI to expedite the work.
