Need to decongest urban NHs via ring roads, bypasses, stresses Nitin Gadkari-led workshop

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari chaired a consultation workshop on Wednesday in New Delhi to strengthen India’s infrastructure and improve urban mobility, which highlighted the government’s vision towards creating sustainable, future-ready and globally competitive transport infrastructure.

There was a special emphasis on reducing congestion in rapidly growing urban agglomerations. Several policy interventions were discussed, including the construction of ring roads and bypasses, which would divert traffic away from the city, thereby decongesting urban national highways.

The congregation also discussed the adoption of value capture financing models, which would enable sustainable funding, along with the alignment of infrastructure development with the city’s master plans. “These measures are expected to not only enhance mobility but also promote planned and regulated development in the influence zones of ring roads and bypasses,” reads the release from the ministry.

The workshop was attended by Union Minister of State Ajay Tamta, Harsh Malhotra, senior state government officials, and municipal commissioners.

Decongesting the arterial national highways that run through some of the most densely populated areas has become critical, as evident by the gridlock-like traffic jams on the NH-48—which passes through Gurugram—late on Monday, when entire stretches of the road were occupied by standstill, seemingly interminable, serpentine-like traffic after steady downpour brought traffic to a snarl first, before completely gridlocking, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

India built 2,108 kilometres of highways in the first quarter of the current financial year, which was 8.9% higher compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the government. However, it should be noted that in the first quarter of the financial year, construction activity was slowed because of the elections. In the same period, the construction of 793 kilometres of new highways was awarded.

In April, Gadkari said at the 10th National Leadership Conclave organised by the All India Management Association (AIMA) that the government aims to increase the pace of construction of national highways to 100 kilometres/day. “Infrastructure development is very important for India... I am working to accelerate the pace of highway construction in the country to 100 km per day,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.