Expressway - The Road To Economic Growth

Once the corridors along the Expressway come into existence, development so far limited to Delhi, would open up and its focus shift to the rural hinterland along the corridors, say the authors. 

Prof. S.S. Jain , Dr. M. Parida 

With the imperatives of growth and development, the problems of cities in the proximity of Delhi in National Capital Region have become complex. These have to be viewed both as a challenge in terms of the pressures of regular and floating in-migration, as well as an opportunity in terms of planning and development in a regional context.  Fortunately, the area surrounding Delhi has physical potential for urbanization provided matching physical infrastructure is also created. 

In recognition of the above factors, the Central Government enacted the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985 for the development of the National Capital Region (NCR) comprising of a total area of 33,578 sqm. It includes areas of Delhi (1483 sq. kms), Haryana (13413 sq.kms.), Uttar Pradesh (10853 sq. kms.) and Rajasthan (7829 sq. km.). The regional plan for NCR RP-2021 has been approved by NCR Planning Board recently. 

It has been realised that decentralization of urbanization through satellite townships has not been effective in checking the growth of Delhi but development of new expressway corridors in the region has opened new vistas. These expressway corridors can be utilized as transport axis to undertaker linear urbanization thereby shifting the fulcrum of urbanization along a linear axis.  

NCR TRANSPORT PLAN - 2001: Transportation would now be multi-sectroral in its nature and scope, ensuring inter and intra sectoral integration. An integrated transportation system in this strategy would rather ‘lead’ than ‘follow’ development. 

The objectives of the transport plan is to promote and support the economic development of the Region and relieve the Capital of traffic congestion. It is to provide accessibility to all the parts of the Region and discourage the transit of passengers and goods through the core area – Delhi by providing bypasses and thereby opening areas for economic development of the rest of the Region.

The Plan proposes, among other steps, to create Expressway on new/parallel alignment, Upgradation of existing National Highways, Development of inner and outer grids, and    Sub-regional road network 

Western Expressway: In order to avoid this congestion caused by the convergence of the five National Highways on to the ring roads in GNCT Delhi, vehicles not destined to Delhi but only transiting it, linkages to be provided linkages to the five National Highways outside the thickly built areas of Delhi. Peripheral Expressways have been proposed, which will practically act as the third ring road.  The Western half of this ring linking NH-1 at Kundli in the North to NH-2 at Faridabad in the South via NH-10 & NH-8 along the western periphery of Delhi has been designated as the Western Peripheral Expressway. The Pre-feasibility Study for the Western Peripheral Expressway has been conducted by GNCT Delhi, indicated a total Length of 88 km.( 74 km. in Delhi and 14 km. in Haryana). 

Eastern Peripheral Expressway: The other half of the third ring road has been proposed to link NH-1 at Kundli to NH-2 at South of Faridabad at Sikri through Ghaziabad and NOIDA on the Eastern side of GNCT Delhi and is termed as the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

The feasibility study of Faridabad-NOIDA-Ghaziabad (FNG) Expressway Corridor (56 km.), Ghaziabad-Kundli (GK) Expressway Corridor (49 km.) and Ghaziabad-Kundli Corridor has been completed.

The entire length of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway consisting of both the segments is located outside GNCT-Delhi.   

A number of other expressways at the level of sub regional network too are being developed. While the main thrust is to decongest the intercity, few of them hold the potential for accelerating rural development in the adjoining hinterland.

Gurgaon Delhi Corridor Development:

The plan to decongest roads between Gurgaon and Delhi, approved both by the union surface ministry and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), is being modified. Three new arteries have been identified to divert long distance vehicles and IGIA bound (Indira Gandhi International Airport) traffic from Technology Park to Centaur Hotel and then on to the intersection of NH 8 and Palam Airport Road. The Mahipalpur (Delhi) – Technology Park (Gurgaon) portion is being upgraded into a eight-lane expresshighway with a series of flyover and the Gurgaon Mehrauli Road (up to Air Force Station, Arjungarh, Delhi) is being turned into a four-lane stretch. 

HUDA, the Union Surface Transport Ministry and the Haryana Government would bear the cost of the three other vital arteries. Following the civil aviation ministry’s move to develop the second international airport near Delhi at Bajghera village (and not at Noida), it has become imperative to construct a multi-lane road from Mangal Dewat village (near Centaur Hotel) to Technology Parrk via Bijwasan, Palam Vihar Sector 5.4, 9.9A,10, 10A, and PACE City to Join NH8. 

The widening of this road would come as a big relief to Palam Vihar, Sectors 21, 22, 23 and 23A, Dundahera and proposed IAAI plan to develop international airport near Gurgaon. Meanwhile, negotiations are in progress with the Delhi Government to develop a four lane road between Navodaya Vidyalaya – Jhajjar and Gurgaon. This will be via Badlhi, Najafgarh, Jhatikra Mor, Dharampur and Daultabad villages crossing the bridge across drain No. 8 and Delhi – Rewari railway line where a flyover has already been committed to be constructed. Similarly, the Gurgaon-Jhajjar state highway is proposed to be widened.

Taj Expressway Project: The concept of Taj Expressway which was initially conceived, with the idea of cutting down on this travel time proposes a 160 km Expressway between Greater Noida and Agra, thus reducing the travel time considerable by 100 minutes. Greater Noida, which is an integral part of National Capital Region is only 40 km away from the residential area of New Delhi. 

The first phase of Expressway between Noida toll Bridge and Greater Noida (about 25 km) is already complete. The proposed Taj Expressway, would actually be an extension of this 6 lane Expressway from Noida to greater Noida thus opening up the vast virgin area on the eastern bank of river Yamuna for the Industrial and Urban Development and provide convergence to the tourism, entertainment, leisure and cknowledge based industry in the region.

This Expressway will provide a fast moving corridor to minimize the travel time, connect the main townships/ commercial centers of the eastern side of Yamuna, ensure development of adjoining area and give relief to NH—2 which is already congested and runs through the heart of cities like Faridabad, Ballabhgarh and Palwal. 

CONCEPT OF REGIONAL EXPRESSWAYS:  In Japan regional vitalization is actively promoted by the construction of expressways – primarily in cities, towns and villages along common roads and other major road arteries. However, population and various functions continue to be concentrated in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and other major urban centers. According to the 1990 census, during the 5 years between 1985-90, population decreased in 18 of a total of 47 prefectures. 

One of the reasons for this situation is an insufficient amount of businesses and urban/ cultural amenities to support permanent residence in these local areas. In order to cope with migration to major urban areas, the formation of Regional spheres is proposed. These spheres will be achieved by integrating the individual regions into a large multi-regional area and then achieving an expanded cumulative scale of businesses and urban/cultural amenities for the regions as an integral whole.  

For the formation of “Regional Spheres”, the well-planned improvement of regional expressways which will serve as core links and act as a catalyst for regional combination along with the regional revitalization strategy will be essential. Those roads will, from the regional spheres, promote regional combination, enhance communication among regional spheres, and form the basis for wide area transportation by strengthening connections with wide-area transport terminals, in cooperation with the 14,000 kilometers of expressway network of country. 

Urbanization Corridor Concept: The idea mooted by Dr. P.S. Rana, CMD, HUDCO is contrary to development of urbanization as satellite towns. Rather urbanization in a region can be accelerated through a corridor. Parameters for selection of Corridors are, existing railway corridors, availability of adequate water sources, proximity to high potential development areas and major cities, alignment of the major transport networks, national highways/major roads, carrying capacity of the regions and development potential of regions.  

The philosophy behind the idea of this development is : guide development along established corridor,

corridor will have a high density core and willbe surrounded by low and medium density development. 

Dr. Rana also proposes the use of existing rail corridors. The most cost effective, efficient and environmental friendly transport system is provided by having Rail as the basic mode and by walk, cycle, rickshaws etc. Development of new rail-based transportation network in the existing cities requires substantial capital investment. On the other hand, developing new urban centers along the existing rail corridors proves cost effective.

Key parameters for a rail based corridor are: corridor width of six to ten km, a Railway Station supports a population of two lakhs, gross density of 10,000 persons per sq. km (100 persons per Hectare). Thus a corridor of 100 km can support population of one crore.  

This concept has been extended to work out a urbanization strategy along Taj Expressway. Instead of a rail based corridor a high-speed expressway corridor shall be used as the central spine for large scale urbanization at regional level. The access controlled Taj Expressway will substantially reduce the travel time between Delhi and Agra thereby attracting traffic on to this road which will also provide safety to high speed traffic. Traffic bound for Kanpur and Kolkata are likely to take the Taj Expressway from Delhi, and so also from other parts of UP as it will conveniently connect NH2 near Etmadpur. Since Agra Development Authority is planning a ring road around Agra connecting all the roads emanating from or terminating at Agra , the proposed Expressway will provide approach to all these routes without passing through the congested Agra town.  

The Taj Expressway along with the existing NH-2 and NH-91 and interconnectivity between all three of them will form a good network of roads which in turn, open up a vast area to all-round development in the following areas –

a.         Upcoming huge urban conglomerates in NOIDA and Greater Noida with their own potential will have easy accessibility towards Aligharh, Mathura and agra.

b.         The proposed Export promotion zones including Taj Economic Zone along the Taj Expressway coupled with the Taj International Hub Airport will promote economic development of the area and the State of UP as a whole.

Safe, shorter travel time and the accessibility in the region will accelerate land development along the Taj Expressway in a planned manner for commercial, industrial, institutional, amusement and residential purposes. This will not only ensure commercial viability of the project but will also provide an ideal financing opportunity for financial institutions. This will eventually result in steady flow of required finances for the project completion. The project can accelerate urban development along the expressway. 

Key strength of the project for taking it up for construction is:

a.         The project road passes through virgin land by the side of River Yamuna which is comparatively thinly populated. There being no problem of rehabilitation, speedier construction is possible.

b.         The project road connects two important destinations of National and International importance-National Capital Delhi and tourist center Agra. Both these places have high potential to generate traffic and economic development. The Agra is already well connected by Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur etc. by a network of National Highways and the proposed Expressway will provide high level connectivity to all these routes from Delhi specially when the proposed ring road around Agra town comes in to being.

c.         Fast developing urban conglomerates at Noida and Greater       Noida with their proximity to NCT of Delhi are in need of an uninterrupted direct route to Agra where further development can be undertaken for economic development of the State of UP. The Taj Expressway provides this opportunity.

d.         With the expressway coming up along the proposed Taj Economic Zone and Taj International Hub Airport within easy reach of Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida, the Taj Expressway project would accelerate overall development of the region.

e.         The Taj Expressway lies in between the high density vital traffic corridors of i.e. National Highway-2 connecting Delhi & Agra and old Shershah Suri Road (NH 91) connecting Kanpur-Aligarh-Khurja-Bullandshahar-Ghaziabad and Delhi. The Expressway has a great potential of attracting traffic from all these routes.

f.          The Taj Expressway will provide connectivity between the various satellite towns of National Capital Region of Delhi i.e. Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Faridabad with Aligarh, Mathura and Agra. Mathura and Agra are well known international tourist destinations.  

The proposed grade separation structures (such as interchanges) are to be constructed with 8 lane width, keeping in view the requirement of future development. Six interchanges are proposed along the Expressway with appropriate design including one designated for TEZ and Taj International Hub Airport.  

Urbanisation along Taj Expressway can be undertaken in Potential Influence areas having a width of around 5 km. each on both sides of the major road or railway. Its development cost will be Rs. 10 to 15 lakhs per acre.

Supplementary Infrastructure services like Railway  network, power-grid communications and pipelines etc. will form the spinal infrastructure corridors providing access to the main infrastructure network.

Urban Centres can be developed through private sector participation. These towns to be provided infrastructure services along with a railway station and multimodal hubs with Railway Station, Bus Terminal Located near expressway interchange to be developed to become the nucleus of the town.

The hinterland would be able to find markets for such products as agro products, fruits, vegetables, flowers, dairy products, poultry and meat. 

Thus the proposed urbanization strategy along Taj Expressway envisages a Taj Expressway of 165 km length having a Corridor Area of 1650 sq. km. It will have 2500 hectares of area earmarked for commercial vehicles.

Assuming development charges as Rs. 4 lacs per acre, revenue expected to be generated from this corridor comes out to be Rs. 16,500/- crores.  Each stakeholder (MoRD, MoUD,  GoUP & Promoters) to contribute equity for the SPVs on a sharing basis.

Urbanisation of the corridor will open up the adjoining rural areas by promoting the economic activity and removing the rural urban disparity in other words it will urbanize the entire area by bringing urban development deep into he rural hinter land in such a way that urban development surrounds the rural hinter land.  

Once the corridors come in the existence the development so far limited to Delhi would open up and fulcrum/center of gravity of development shifts along the corridors where potentiality exists. Thus the entire state will be urbanized and remove the rural urban disparity. The Taj Expressway corridor development has been already designed in Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework. Already 2500 hectares area has been earmarked for industrial and commercial development. In view of this, the remaining task of implementing township projects through private sector inputs can be a relatively easier task.