NOIDA: Decades within the making, crores spent, about 70% of the Noida stretch constructed. And now about to be abandoned. That is the most likely destiny of the Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad (FNG) expressway, which has seen nearly no development over the past two years, even after the UP govt gave a no-objection to the Centre to grant it nationwide highway (NH) status.
In a gathering earlier this month, the Centre advised Noida since it's already development the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), which is parallel to the FNG, there is not any want for the FNG anymore.
With crores already spent at the venture, Noida leader Alok Tandon inspected the road on Wednesday in a last-ditch attempt to pitch it as a national highway with the apex frame, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
According to Authority officials, FNG was once planned way back in 1989. Work on it in spite of everything began in 1993, with work at the Noida portion starting in 2008. In November 2015, the UP govt had given a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Centre to grant it a NH tag.
"However, since last year or so, work has stood still," Tandon advised TOI. "A few days ago, I spoke to a senior official at the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH), to take the matter forward. We've spent Rs 129 crore of the project estimate of Rs 174 crore on it already. This amount was decided before work had started," he stated.
"Today, I conducted a detailed inspection of the stretch vis-a-vis EPE. I'll pursue the case further with MoRTH," he stated. "There's no doubt if it is completed, the road will provide fast connectivity to daily commuters and act as a bypass for commuters travelling to Delhi, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. The highway will certainly decongest Noida roads and mitigate vehicular pollution," he added.
Of its total period, about 19.9km falls in Noida-Greater Noida, 8km in Ghaziabad, and the remainder 28.1km in Faridabad. In Noida, one end of FNG is located at Chijarsi on NH-24, while the opposite end is on the entrance to Faridabad, near Sector 168. Once extended until Sohna as proposed, its period shall be 75km.
Though Noida has completed about 70% of the venture, some stretches are yet to be opened to commuters. "Since November 2015, we stopped further construction as we expected NHAI to take over once it was declared as a NH," stated Sandeep Chandra, leader venture engineer, Noida Authority.
"In January this year, Indian Academy of Highway Engineers was asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR). Since then, though, we haven't received a formal intimation from MoRTH regarding the status of the project," he stated.
Tandon stated in a gathering with MoRTH earlier this month, the ministry advised Noida Authority leader engineer that it may not be viable for NHAI to take over the e-way as a national highway, considering it's already developing the EPE.
"To complete the project, Noida would need about Rs 1,100-1,200 crore, as we'll need an elevated road over Dadri-Surajpur-Chhalera (DSC) road and the Noida-Greater Noida e-way estimated to about Rs 700 crore, a bridge across Yamuna estimated to be nearly Rs 300 crore, and also acquire some encroached land," Chandra defined.
"We'll have to study the feasibility of this additional cost. If MoRTH refuses to take over, we'll explore the option of developing the already built stretch as a peripheral road for nearby sectors," he added.
In a gathering earlier this month, the Centre advised Noida since it's already development the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), which is parallel to the FNG, there is not any want for the FNG anymore.
With crores already spent at the venture, Noida leader Alok Tandon inspected the road on Wednesday in a last-ditch attempt to pitch it as a national highway with the apex frame, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
According to Authority officials, FNG was once planned way back in 1989. Work on it in spite of everything began in 1993, with work at the Noida portion starting in 2008. In November 2015, the UP govt had given a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Centre to grant it a NH tag.
"However, since last year or so, work has stood still," Tandon advised TOI. "A few days ago, I spoke to a senior official at the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH), to take the matter forward. We've spent Rs 129 crore of the project estimate of Rs 174 crore on it already. This amount was decided before work had started," he stated.
"Today, I conducted a detailed inspection of the stretch vis-a-vis EPE. I'll pursue the case further with MoRTH," he stated. "There's no doubt if it is completed, the road will provide fast connectivity to daily commuters and act as a bypass for commuters travelling to Delhi, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. The highway will certainly decongest Noida roads and mitigate vehicular pollution," he added.
Of its total period, about 19.9km falls in Noida-Greater Noida, 8km in Ghaziabad, and the remainder 28.1km in Faridabad. In Noida, one end of FNG is located at Chijarsi on NH-24, while the opposite end is on the entrance to Faridabad, near Sector 168. Once extended until Sohna as proposed, its period shall be 75km.
Though Noida has completed about 70% of the venture, some stretches are yet to be opened to commuters. "Since November 2015, we stopped further construction as we expected NHAI to take over once it was declared as a NH," stated Sandeep Chandra, leader venture engineer, Noida Authority.
"In January this year, Indian Academy of Highway Engineers was asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR). Since then, though, we haven't received a formal intimation from MoRTH regarding the status of the project," he stated.
Tandon stated in a gathering with MoRTH earlier this month, the ministry advised Noida Authority leader engineer that it may not be viable for NHAI to take over the e-way as a national highway, considering it's already developing the EPE.
"To complete the project, Noida would need about Rs 1,100-1,200 crore, as we'll need an elevated road over Dadri-Surajpur-Chhalera (DSC) road and the Noida-Greater Noida e-way estimated to about Rs 700 crore, a bridge across Yamuna estimated to be nearly Rs 300 crore, and also acquire some encroached land," Chandra defined.
"We'll have to study the feasibility of this additional cost. If MoRTH refuses to take over, we'll explore the option of developing the already built stretch as a peripheral road for nearby sectors," he added.
After 3 decades & Rs 129 crore spending, Faridabad-Ghaziabad e-way could be scrapped
![After 3 decades & Rs 129 crore spending, Faridabad-Ghaziabad e-way could be scrapped]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
November 30, 2017
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