News Brief
Rs 1,645 Crore Bypass Cleared To Decongest Vrindavan, Offering Direct Connectivity To Yamuna Expressway
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The much-awaited Vrindavan bypass has got the go-ahead from the Central Government, with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari giving his nod to the project, Jagran reported.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sanctioned Rs 1,645.72 crore for its construction to decongest Vrindavan's traffic-congested roads and making pilgrims' and commuters' travel smooth.
The bypass will give a direct connection from the Agra-Delhi Highway to the Yamuna Expressway, and this will enable tourists to avoid traffic-congested roads in Vrindavan.
Pilgrims going to the sacred Thakur Banke Bihari Temple will also benefit from this route.
Presently, all traffic traversing between these highways has to go through Vrindavan, resulting in regular traffic congestion.
The new bypass will begin near Jaint at 129.32 km on the Agra-Delhi Highway, pass through Sunrakh, cross the Yamuna at Jugalghat, and join the expressway near Jahangirpur.
The project includes flyovers and a state-of-the-art hanging bridge over the Yamuna.
Pilgrims may park here and travel to Jugalghat in e-rickshaws or golf carts, cutting the walking distance to Thakur Banke Bihari Temple to one kilometre.
Visitors currently park at Rukmini Vihar or Sau Shaiya and have to cover a distance of five to six kilometres by e-rickshaw.
Also, the government has approved Rs 150 crore for a corridor near Thakur Banke Bihari Temple, which will span five acres.
The bypass will provide smooth access to this corridor, and an entry point at Jugalghat has been planned.
The project will significantly improve travel conditions and offer a major relief to commuters according to SB Singh, Vice President of the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority.
With construction costs pegged at Rs 107.28 crore per km, the overall cost of the project is Rs 1,769.49 crore. Approval of funds will now set the stage for land acquisition and early start of construction.
