Construction ban to hit Delhi-Meerut expressway work

GHAZIABAD: The order by the EPCA to stop night construction activity in Delhi-NCR from October 26 to 30, in anticipation of pollution levels increasing during the Diwali period, will lead to work on the Delhi-Meerut expressway stopping too.
This will, however, feed another pollution source: the constant gridlock at the Hindon canal bridge near UP Gate which is still being widened. The stretch now witnesses long snarls because traffic on the expressway is funnelled into the narrow, two-lane bridge on the canal.
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The snarls, which happen on both the Ghaziabad-Delhi and Delhi-Ghaziabad lanes will only stop once the bridge is widened.
The National Highways Authority of India said it has still not received any directions from the state government or the EPCA yet but will still stop construction activity on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway once it does.
“As of now, we are engaged in black-topping of road under Phase 2, from UP gate to Dasna and there is no major work that can lead to dust pollution,” said RP Singh, project director, NHAI. “Major work is being carried out in the Meerut area but we will stop work as directed by EPCA,” added Singh.
Work on the expressway had been stopped for a few days last year too when air pollution levels soared.