Work is set to start by May, and the entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.
After being held up for more than two years, work on the second stretch of NH 24 — between UP Gate and Dasna — has finally been awarded to a private construction firm. Work for the widening project is set to start by May. The step comes much to the relief of commuters and officegoers.
The entire widening work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018. When this becomes a 14-lane highway, numerous commuters (mostly officegoers) will be relieved from peak-hour traffic congestion.
Widening work on this part of the highway has been highly awaited by hundreds of residents from the densely populated residential townships such as Indirapuram and Crossings Republik of Ghaziabad, along with several residential and commercial sectors of Noida.
Speaking to City Spidey, Manav Shukla, a resident of Crossings Republik in Ghaziabad, said residents had almost lost hope of ever seeing the widened highway. However, he added that things had started to look up when the legal issue that had kept the work hanging had finally been resolved in Delhi High Court. "It is great news that the widening of this stretch will start next month," Shukla added.
Speaking to City Spidey, RP Singh, project manager of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), told City Spidey that the contract had been awarded to APCO Chetak, a joint venture of two companies. However, Singh maintained that NHAI was yet to sign an agreement with them.
"The signing of the agreement will be completed soon and work will be initiated immediately after that. After the agreement, the company will take some time for mobilisation. Work for construction of the utility ducts of the highway will start by next month, while construction work in full flow will begin in the next four months," added Singh.
The contract for widening the third stretch (Dasna to Hapur) of the national highway also lies with APCO Chetak and it has already initiated work there. The work had been held up for almost two years, as the tendering process was stayed by Delhi High Court. NHAI had disqualified one of the bidders for not meeting the requirements. The disqualified bidder had filed a petition in court challenging NHAI's decision. The High Court cleared the issue last month.
