News Brief
Traffic Flow, Safety On Delhi–Meerut Expressway To Improve With Rs 18 Crore NHAI Project
Delhi - Meerut expressway (NHAI)
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has received approval for a Rs 18 crore plan to enhance safety and traffic flow on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME), Hindustan Times reported, citing officials.
The plan includes fencing both sides of a 15 km stretch of the expressway, adding more signage, installing automatic number plate readers in underpasses, and setting up traffic booths at entry and exit points, officials said.
“The plan has been approved by the headquarters in Delhi, and once designs are cleared, it will take around 7–8 months to complete,” an NHAI official was quoted as saying by HT.
Ghaziabad traffic police said the entry and exit points of the DME to NH-9 have become hazardous, citing the death of constable Vipin Kumar, who was hit by a speeding car near IPEM College on 22 August.
Police later arrested two people on murder charges after a video of the incident surfaced online.
Additional DCP (traffic) Sacchidanand said police held meetings with NHAI on required safety measures and proposed setting up police booths near DME entry and exit points.
“Otherwise, traffic personnel are at risk while standing and managing the entry/exit points,” he was quoted as saying by HT.
He added that since the constable’s death, personnel have been told not to stand on the expressway to manage traffic, and movable barriers will soon be placed at every entry and exit point.
They added that traffic personnel are deployed at entry and exit points to prevent two-wheelers and tractors from entering the expressway.
A traffic police official said two-wheeler riders often attempt to use expressway lanes despite a ban, while some commuters miss exits and continue on the DME.
Heavy traffic during peak hours and festivals also requires personnel to be deployed at these points, the official added.
NHAI said the entry and exit point where the constable was killed was newly constructed.
“This became operational last year on residents’ demand. There is no infrastructure issue here. Traffic police manage these points to maintain smooth flow and prevent banned vehicles from entering the lanes,” the NHAI official added.
