NHAI chief visits e-way, to expand Kherki toll plaza

In an effort to end the perpetual traffic congestion at the Kherki Daula toll plaza on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will acquire the adjoining land on priority.

NHAI chairman Raghav Chandra, who toured the 27.7-kilometre expressway, made this announcement on Sunday. The NHAI chairman also quizzed the highway officials about the proposed infrastructure projects and the reasons delaying them.

Chandra directed the officials to utilize three plots available with the authority at Sirhaul and Hero Honda Chowk to create public amenities. This can mean setting up bus bays, traffic shelters and other public conveniences.

The expansion of Kherki Daula toll plaza will also be taken up on priority. “We will start the land acquisition process soon to increase the number of lanes at Kherki Daula to resolve jams,” Chandra said. He also inspected the control room at the toll plaza.

His visit also sent a message that improvement of road conditions and facilities for commuters should be a top priority of highway officials. He had no qualms in admitting that the NHAI, MCEPL and Skylark that own and operate this highway need to increase resources and manpower.

It was also decided that the road near Rajokari crossing will be expanded as there are jams at that point daily and there is space available to widen the road. Chandra spent considerable time at Rajokari and he also walked through the underpass at Sirhaul toll plaza. He asked the NHAI officials to repair the surface and install solar lights at the underpass.

The NHAI chairman stopped at Iffco Chowk, Rajiv Chowk and at an exit point between this stretch, and Kherki Daula. He also slowed down at Hero Honda Chowk to take stock of the situation. He also looked at the maps of proposed underpasses and later in the meeting with district administration, discussed the issue of land acquisition so that the work is not delayed. “We have decided that wherever land is made available, the service lanes will be widened. The entry and exit points will also see changes to ease traffic congestion,” he said.

Chandra said that Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway was a prestigious project of the NHAI and all efforts will be made to ensure the convenience of commuters. “I was keen to visit this road for long and today, I got the time to understand the complexity of the problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gurgaon MP and MoS for defence Rao Inderjit Singh, who has been calling for the removal of Kherki Daula toll plaza, termed the visit of the NHAI chairman a step in the right direction. “This road needs lots of improvement and Kherki Daula toll is a major bottleneck. These issues need solutions at the earliest,” he said.