'No company showing interest in developing Dasna-Meerut eway'

Even though PM Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of Delhi-Dasna-Meerut 14-lane expressway on December 31 last year, it seems commuters are not going to get relief from traffic woes at NH-24.

Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) say the traffic medss prevails as no major road constructing companies are showing interest to participate in the bidding process for UP border to Dasna stretch, a key section in the 74-km project.

With an eye on the 2017 UP elections, the NDA is banking on Rs 3,064-crore expressway project as widening of NH-24 will provide great relief to commuters travelling to Lucknow through Moradabad and Bareilly as around 1-1.25 lakh vehicles pass through Ghaziabad every day.

Surprisingly, PM Modi had laid the foundation stone even without removing the obstacle.

According to NHAI officials, the national road construction agency has extended the final bidding dates eight times in the past six months, after tenders were floated for constructing the Delhi-Dasna expressway. However, officials have assured that the bids would be finalised this time as the due date for selecting a company that would complete work on the UP Border to Dasna stretch is January 22.

However, NHAI officials refused to give a valid reason for the extension of dates, but said in case there will be no bidders for Package-II, the Centre is capable enough to construct the stretch on its own. According to sources, its “hybrid annuity” model, which is not attracting road developers to come forward to invest in this section, is a great setback to Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.