PM Modi inaugurates the Western Peripheral Expressway: Details here
Six months after the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) was opened, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated its sister expressway, the Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE), on Monday. The opening of the WPE, popularly known as the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway, marks the completion of a Ring Road around Delhi 13 years after it was conceived. Here's all about it.
The Ring Road project was planned in 2005
The Ring Road project around Delhi was planned based on the Supreme Court's directions in 2005, but faced several delays. Now, finally, the 135km-long WPE will join the 135km-long EPE, thereby completing a 270km loop around Delhi. The Ring Road is expected to decongest traffic in Delhi, providing the national capital with much-needed relief from air pollution.
A bit about toll charges
Toll charges on both the WPE and EPE are 25% higher than toll charged on national highways, and both expressways have a closed tolling system, meaning that commuters have to pay only for the distance they travel.
Details about the WPE's infrastructure
The six-lane WPE will connect NH-1 (towards Panipat), near Kundli, with NH-10 (Rohtak Road, near Bahadurgarh), NH-8 (Jaipur Expressway at Manesar), and NH-2 (Delhi-Agra Highway near Palwal). In terms of infrastructure, the WPE has eight small bridges, six big bridges, four railway over bridges, and 34 underpasses. For beautification, 21 sculptures prepared by the Cultural Affairs department will be installed on the Expressway.
Other information about the WPE
Further, the WPE will have refuelling stations, parking lots, police stations, trauma centers, refreshment centers, recreational facilities, and even a helipad. For safety, chain-link fencing has been installed along the length of the Expressway, along with three-meter-wide metal beam crash barriers. The WPE will also see trees planted on both sides of the road, and on dividers.
The Ring Road will divert 50,000 trucks, cut travel time
The WPE, in conjunction with the EPE, is expected to divert more than 50,000 heavy vehicles not destined for Delhi away from the national capital. Additionally, the Ring Road will drastically cut down travel time as vehicles traveling from north India to western and southern parts of the country do not have to enter the capital, and can skirt around it.
How decongestion will help with Delhi's air pollution woes
The consequent reduction in traffic in Delhi is expected to come as a huge relief to the national capital, which was been choking under a blanket of haze. Not only will decongestion help with Delhi's air pollution, of which vehicular emissions account for 30%, it will also help improve traffic flow in the capital.
