AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR CONVERSION OF DELHI-GURGON SECTION OF NH-8 INTO ACCESS CONTROLLED 8/6 LANE HIGHWAY

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The Concession Agreement for conversion of Delhi-Gurgaon Section of NH-8 into Access Controlled 8/6 Lane Highway from Km. 14.30 to Km. 42.0 on Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis was signed today. The Agreement was signed between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and M/s Jai Prakash Industries Ltd. – DS Constructions Pvt. Ltd (Joint Venture). As per the Agreement, the Concessionaire will pay an amount of Rs. 61.06 crore to the Government.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Road Transport and Highways, Maj. Gen. B.C. Khanduri, AVSM (Retd.) said that the project will result in substantial reduction in travel time between Delhi and Gurgaon/Jaipur. It will also result in reduced fuel and wear-tear costs. He stressed that all efforts would be made to minimise any inconvenience to the public due to the construction work. He informed that service roads would be built on both sides of the highway for the traffic not wanting to use the access-controlled facility.

The project is expected to be operational by April 2005. It will envisage an investment of about Rs. 555 crore by the Concessionaire. Speaking on the occasion, a representative of the Concessionaire said that efforts would be made to complete the project in 2004 itself. The toll collection system would incorporate latest technology and the average stopping time of a vehicle would be 12 seconds. To facilitate free flow of traffic, Grade Separaters would be built at all intersections. Underpasses would be built at Southcity and Jharsa crossings to avoid the traffic on main carriageway.