Union Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for four flyovers and other development projects in Gurugram at an estimated cost of Rs 282 crore.
On the occasion, Malhotra stated that he was grateful to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat, where world-class infrastructure is not a dream but a reality.
Over the past 11 years, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the government has undertaken a massive coordinated push to strengthen connectivity across India, he said.
The minister highlighted that the national highway network in the country has expanded from 91,000 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km, making it the second-largest road network globally with high-speed corridors growing from just 93 km to 2,474 km, and highways with four lanes and above increasing by 2.5 times in the last decade.
The government, he said, has played a transformative role in reshaping Gurugram into a dynamic urban and economic powerhouse.
Landmark infrastructure projects such as the Dwarka Expressway, Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), Metro Rail extensions, the Gurugram–Sohna elevated corridor, the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway and have significantly enhanced regional connectivity across Delhi-NCR, the minister added.
The projects that are starting today will ensure a safer and smoother travel experience for the residents and commuters of Gurugram, Rewari, and adjoining regions. They will also address the long-standing challenges of traffic congestion, waterlogging, and road safety along the NH-48 corridor from Kherki Dhaula to the Haryana-Rajasthan border, he added.
The Minister further highlighted that Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) at nine strategic locations along the Gurgaon–Kotputli–Jaipur section of NH-48 will be equipped with ramps and stairways to ensure accessibility for all, including two-wheelers where necessary.
Also, to enhance safety and usability during night hours, the bridges will feature dedicated lighting systems, which would, in turn, significantly reduce pedestrian-related accidents and fatalities while improving overall highway safety and connectivity, he said.