Rs 7,500-cr Delhi-Meerut E-way to free NCR from pollution: PM

Modi, while launching the project from satellite city Noida, said that the project will prove to be a milestone for development of Western UP as it will open doors for new satellite cities in 150-kilometre radius of Delhi. Addressing a gathering, the PM also proposed a model of development for poll-bound UP and Uttrakhand states.

Modi, in his address said that the speed of development is not going to stop and even a person from a village understands that if he wants to be connected with development, he needs to connect his village with good roads. Invoking memories of the ideas of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi said Vajpayee initiated projects to bring about changes in life of rural India by increasing connectivity between villages. The former PM was responsible for two great things — Plan for putting India on the map, shoulder to shoulder with other nations by spearheading the Golden Quadrilateral Express Highway and wanted India’s potential to be fully realised, for villages to be on the same plane of comparison, and for this he launched Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna.

The Prime Minister also said when one city is connected to nearby small cities in 100-kilometre radius, the smaller villages in that radius develop along with the city they border. 

This will be a hub of development with all towns in this range. Meerut, Dehradun will become more developed.

“This is not just an Expressway, it is the road of development. Project like this is bound to bring in more employment. Small time tea sellers, dhaba owners will benefit immensely from this. Machine and materials won’t cost as much as labour. When employment opportunities increase, the purchasing power of the villagers will increase. 

“When that happens, Indian economy will touch new heights. All our schemes are aimed at helping the poor. This highway will benefit sugarcane farmers in the area. More people on the highway means more business for them,” said Modi.

“The road connecting Meerut to Delhi is the busiest highway in the region and the Expressway will do away with 31 traffic signals on the road and make it “signal-free”, reducing travel time between Meerut and Delhi from two and a half hours to around 40 minutes. This highway will show the path to tackle pollution. Delhi is the most polluted Capital in the world,” added the Prime Minister.