Western Peripheral Expressway Likely To Go Live On Gandhi Jayanti, Four Months Ahead Of Deadline

Having been delayed for over 12 years, the Western Peripheral Expressway is likely to become operational by 2 October, Times of India has reported. The government of Haryana is looking forward to open the 135-kilometre stretch with the project connecting Sonipat to Palwal, bypassing Delhi.

The issue of the project delay had been brought up during PM Modi’s web-interaction with secretaries on 29 August. The cabinet secretary had been asked to take up a meeting with the government of Haryana and Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and ensure that it is met completion by September 2018.

Facing inordinate delay, the Government of Haryana had awarded the contract to Essel Infrastructure in 2016 August for the remainder work to be done. The official deadline had been set for February 2019, with the project now looking at completion with full four months to go. Essel says that the work is nearing completion, and it may take about a couple of weeks or so to wrap up. The last peg is pending, and they aim to finish it soon.

The toll booths will be managed by Haryana, and the state will take a call on the charges to be received by consumers.