Delhi-Meerut 14-Lane Expressway: The Entire Details

The Delhi Meerut Expressway was first initiated in 1999 to boost up the connectivity of Meerut with the Western region of the national capital region (NCR). But, the project was soon laid off due to financial issues. Finally, in November 2013 the central government decided to fund this Delhi Meerut Expressway instead of the Uttar Pradesh state government to ease out the commute of the common man. The construction of the highway began in December 2015 and was eventually completed in April 2021. The Delhi Meerut Expressway has successfully reduced the journey time between Delhi and Meerut from 2.5 hours to 45 minutes. The Delhi to Meerut distance is 98.4 km. 

Delhi Meerut Expressway Overview

The Delhi to Meerut expressway is 96 km long and is the widest expressway in India which also extends to 14 lanes in some places. It is a controlled-access expressway and it bridges Delhi to Meerut via Dasna in Ghaziabad. Since the expressway crosses some of the most congested areas of NCR, the cost of construction rose to around ₹8,000-₹10,000 crores. The National Highways Authority of India funded 40% of the total project. The rest of the cost was funded externally. 

Delhi Meerut Expressway History

This project was first mentioned in the Lok Sabha by the then Minister of State for Urban Affairs and Employment in the month of March 1999. A request for an expressway from Ghaziabad to Meerut was made (Ghaziabad to Meerut distance is 50.9 km). It was again mentioned in February 2000 by the then Union Urban Development Minister. 

The project was then proposed under the NCR Transport Plan 2021, the notification of which was released in September 2005. In December 2011, the final date of completion of the expressway was confirmed to be December 2015. Eventually, on the 18th of November, 2013 it was established that the funding for the completion of the Delhi Meerut Expressway will be done by the central government and not the state government of Uttar Pradesh. The work of the expressway was delayed a lot till now. 

The 4 lane construction of this expressway was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) led by PM Narendra Modi and the construction was set to be completed by July 2014. In May 2016, PM Modi approved the widening of the expressway to 8 lanes. So there would be six and eight lanes in different sections of the Delhi Meerut Expressway route. The project was given a deadline of 3 years. The construction of Nizamuddin to Dasna road began in December 2015. 

Delhi-Meerut Expressway Cost 

The entire cost of construction of the Delhi Meerut Expressway amounted to ₹8,346 crores in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi to Meerut distance by road has been cut down by 1 hour and 45 minutes. 

Length of Delhi-Meerut Expressway

The total length of the entire project is 82 km. The entire length consists of 60 km of Expressway and 22 km of National Highways. Total 24 minor and major bridges, 3 RoBs, 10 flyovers, 15 subways, 95 underpasses, and 12 Foot over Bridges have also been constructed in this project. 

Route of Delhi-Meerut Expressway

The Delhi Meerut Expressway route is as follows: 

Nizamuddin Bridge > Delhi > Uttar Pradesh Border > Dasna(Ghaziabad) > Meerut (Partapur) 

Delhi-Meerut Expressway Phases

A strategic layout was made and it was decided that the construction of the Delhi Meerut Expressway route will be completed in 4 phases, before the set deadline. The phases are:

Phase 1:

The first and foremost section of the Delhi Meerut Expressway was 8.7 km long and had 14 lanes to be constructed. It included 6 lanes for the expressway and 8 lanes for the normal highway. This section had 4 flyovers and 3 underpasses. The beginning of the route was from Nizamuddin Bridge and ended at Delhi-UP Border. The cost of Phase I of the Delhi to Meerut Expressway amounted to around ₹841 crores and was launched in May 2018. 

Phase 2: 

This route, which was 19.2 km long, had a single flyover and 15 underpasses. The stretch of this section extended from the Delhi-UP border & Dasna in Ghaziabad via Lal Kuan. The approximate cost of construction for this route was ₹2000 crore. This section of the Delhi Meerut Expressway was eventually opened for the public on the 1st of April, 2021. 

Phase 3: 

This section was approximately 22 km long and has 1 flyover & 12 underpasses. However, unlike the other sections of the highway, this route has 8 lanes instead of 6. The total cost of construction of this phase was ₹1,000 crore. This phase was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road and Transport, in the month of September 2019. 

Phase 4: 

This stretch of the Delhi Meerut Expressway was the longest out of all. It expanded from Dasna which is in Ghaziabad to the town of Partapur in Meerut. This 46 km long section crosses an undeveloped area. The entire cost of construction is ₹1080 crore and was thrown open to the general public on April 1, 2021. 

Delhi Meerut Expressway Historical Timeline

Key facilities of the Delhi Meerut Expressway

A major facility of lighting has been provided in this project. 4500 additional lights have been installed on the expressway. Cameras have also been installed on this expressway. 

The NHAI will introduce the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) or commonly known as the FASTag system based Multi Lane Free Flow Tolling System in a short time. The FASTag system helps in the free flow of traffic without stopping at the tolls for paying cash or highway fees. 

A major facility for the cycle riders has been provided keeping in mind their safety. A 2.5-meter cycle corridor has been and a 2-meter wide footpath has also been made. 

The good news for the general public is that this expressway is being developed as a Smart Expressway in which the commuters will get all the updated information on traffic, climate, and the other details related to the expressway. The travelers will also get information regarding accidents (if any) in different locations. 

Delhi Meerut Expressway: Impact on Real Estate

The Delhi Meerut Expressway was designed to ease the congestion along NH 24. By eliminating the traffic signals on the road, the expressway will be successful in reducing the time between the two cities to 40 minutes. This would also help in reducing the air pollution which was being produced beyond limits. 

Apart from the above-stated benefits, the construction of the Delhi Meerut Expressway will definitely increase the prices of housing projects on both sides of the expressway. Hence, it will aid in better infrastructure and increase the demand for residential properties in the area. The capital and rental properties will benefit a lot from the Delhi Meerut highway. The metro will be extended to Ghaziabad, resulting in demand from the end-users and investors. Ghaziabad has been growing for a long time now and has become a favorite spot of investment. 

Apart from the development of NCR the Delhi to Meerut Expressway will also result in the development of the areas of western UP. It is a boon especially for the people of Meerut as they believe that it will result in the overall growth of the region. 

Since there will be a greater demand, it will result in the increase of the residential projects along the NH 24 stretch. There will be growth in the Noida Extension, Noida, and Indirapuram. As in the cases of other expressways and highways, the construction of the Delhi Meerut Expressway will lead to a positive impact on the real estate sector. 

Delhi Meerut Expressway green initiative

For the construction of the expressway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) made use of the solid waste of the Ghazipur landfill in order to control pollution. It is considered a great green initiative by the government. 

On a final note

With the completed construction of the Delhi Meerut Expressway, the time between both the cities has been reduced to 45 minutes from 2.5 hours. This has resulted in an increased level of efficiency, reduction in traffic congestion, and control of air pollution. Over time, it will also have a positive impact on the real estate sector with the demand for capital and rental properties.