PM Modi Launches $4B Delhi Infrastructure Upgrade
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects in Delhi worth ₹33,500 crore (approx. $4 billion) on March 8. The massive investment targets transportation and urban development, aiming to modernize the capital's infrastructure and improve connectivity.
A significant portion of the investment is directed towards two major road projects aimed at decongesting the capital: the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II). The Dwarka Expressway, India's first urban elevated highway, will feature an 8-lane access-controlled system. The total cost for this 29 km project, connecting Dwarka in Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana, is approximately ₹9,000 crore. The Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) is a 75.7 km, 6-lane expressway that will function as Delhi's third semi-ring road. This project, with an estimated cost of ₹7,715.60 crore, will connect major national highways like NH-44, NH-10, NH-8, and NH-2, providing a bypass for traffic not destined for Delhi. It is expected to significantly reduce travel time from cities like Sonipat and Bahadurgarh to the IGI Airport. Beyond roads, the investment includes about ₹18,300 crore for the Delhi Metro. This involves the inauguration of two new corridors: the 12.3 km Majlis Park-Maujpur Babarpur section of the Pink Line and the 9.9 km Deepali Chowk-Majlis Park section of the Magenta Line. Foundation stones were also laid for three new corridors under Phase 5-A, which will enhance connectivity between areas like Noida, South Delhi, and the airport. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is also advancing multiple housing schemes as part of the urban development push. These include the "Sasta Ghar Housing Scheme" offering over 34,000 flats for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) categories, with prices starting from ₹11.5 lakh. Other schemes cater to middle and high-income groups with flats in areas like Dwarka, Jasola, and Narela. Another major component is the ₹15,200 crore redevelopment of seven General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) colonies, including Sarojini Nagar and Netaji Nagar. This initiative operates on a self-financing model, where a portion of the land is monetized for commercial use to fund the construction of modern, high-rise housing for over 9,350 government employees, replacing old and unsafe buildings. The construction of UER-II incorporates an environmental benefit by utilizing lakhs of tons of waste from Delhi's landfills in the road-building process. This approach not only helps in managing the city's waste but also contributes to a more sustainable infrastructure development model.
