Delhi‑NCR has approved two major highway projects worth ₹10,800 crore to ease congestion and improve regional connectivity. A 17 km link between UER 2 and the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, and a 65 km corridor connecting Tronica City to the FNG Expressway, are set to decongest inner roads and integrate key freight and commuter routes across the capital region.
In a high-level meeting between central and state officials, a major infrastructure thrust was finalised to address chronic traffic bottlenecks across the national capital region. With a combined investment of over ₹10,000 crore, two large-scale road corridors will be constructed to facilitate faster movement of both passenger and freight vehicles, while easing the pressure on overstressed urban roads. The first of the two projects involves the construction of a 17-kilometre road linking Urban Extension Road 2 (UER 2) to the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway. This route, which will connect near Tronica City, is estimated to cost ₹3,300 crore. Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce congestion along critical national highways such as NH-48 and NH-44, as well as the Ring Roads and the Barapullah elevated corridor.
Officials confirmed that this link will especially benefit traffic entering Delhi from Haryana and Rajasthan and heading towards Dehradun. The route will offer a seamless exit from western NCR without pushing that traffic into the city centre. Bids for hiring a consultant to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) are currently being evaluated, with work likely to be awarded by mid-June. The second approved highway, projected to cost ₹7,500 crore, will stretch 65 kilometres from Tronica City and intersect with the under-construction Faridabad–Noida–Ghaziabad (FNG) Expressway. The proposed alignment will interconnect five critical expressways—the Delhi–Dehradun, Delhi–Meerut, Noida–Greater Noida, DND–Faridabad, and Yamuna Expressway—forming a crucial ring of access around Delhi’s urban sprawl.
By improving connectivity among NCR towns such as Loni, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Faridabad, this road is poised to drastically reduce vehicular dependency on existing overcrowded links like Kalindi Kunj and Sarai Kale Khan. Government documents suggest that a tender has been floated for hiring a consultant to prepare the DPR for this highway as well. In total, the Union government has committed around ₹1.25 lakh crore towards decongestion efforts across Delhi, part of which includes these newly announced corridors. These initiatives are being undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and will be funded directly by the Centre with support from the Delhi Public Works Department (PWD).
A noteworthy sustainability measure linked to these projects involves the reuse of inert waste recovered through biomining of legacy landfill sites in Delhi. Around 10 lakh metric tonnes of such material have already been used in the construction of the UER 2 corridor. This aligns with the government’s broader goal of circular infrastructure development, while also alleviating the environmental burden of Delhi’s overflowing landfills. Officials involved in the planning confirmed that the use of recycled construction material has led to significant cost and carbon savings. This approach is being seen as a model for other urban infrastructure projects seeking low-impact solutions.
Urban transport experts have welcomed the move, pointing out that Delhi needs long-overdue alternatives to its internal road network. However, they also warn that mere highway construction will not solve urban mobility unless these roads are paired with robust public transport integration, last-mile connectivity, and a shift towards green logistics. Some civil society groups have voiced concerns about the potential environmental impact of such mega infrastructure. They urge authorities to conduct thorough environmental assessments and to engage with local communities during the planning phase, especially in ecologically sensitive areas of NCR.
Coordination between Delhi and its neighbouring states—Haryana and Uttar Pradesh—will also be critical in ensuring the seamless execution of these cross-border projects. Inter-state collaboration is necessary for land acquisition, regulatory clearances, and synchronised development of connecting local roads. The government is pushing for a rapid project timeline. With tenders out and DPR consultants soon to be appointed, groundwork is expected to begin later this year. Officials maintain that once operational, these corridors will drastically improve both passenger and freight mobility across the Delhi metropolitan region, reduce travel times, lower fuel consumption, and decrease air pollution due to idling vehicles on congested roads.
As the capital continues to grapple with air quality challenges, urban sprawl, and infrastructure stress, the success of these highway projects may serve as a turning point—not just in managing traffic, but in advancing an integrated and sustainable approach to city planning in the world’s most populous capital region.
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