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The inauguration of the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), commonly known as the Western Ring Road, marks the end of a protracted 25-year wait for Delhi residents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the remaining sections of this crucial infrastructure project, a development poised to significantly alleviate traffic congestion and enhance connectivity across the capital and its surrounding regions. Conceived in 2000 and subsequently managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) from 2018, the 75-kilometer UER-II project has been plagued by repeated delays, primarily stemming from land acquisition challenges, cost escalations, and a shifting of responsibilities between various government agencies. Despite these hurdles, the completion of the UER-II represents a significant milestone in Delhi's urban development and promises a considerable improvement in the daily commute for thousands of residents. The project aims to provide a seamless link between Delhi's western and northern suburbs and the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, significantly reducing travel time and easing congestion on existing arterial roads. This strategic connectivity is expected to enhance economic activity and improve the overall quality of life for residents in the region. The new expressway is projected to cut travel time between key locations by 30 to 40 minutes, a substantial saving that will benefit both commuters and businesses alike. By providing an alternative route for traffic headed towards Sonipat, Panipat, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, the UER-II will bypass notorious choke points such as Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, and the city's Ring Roads, thereby decongesting these areas and improving traffic flow. The UER-II's strategic integration with other major expressways, including NH-44, NH-09, and the Dwarka Expressway, further enhances its significance as a vital transportation corridor. The simultaneous inauguration of the Dwarka Expressway alongside the UER-II underscores the government's commitment to improving infrastructure and connectivity in the National Capital Region (NCR). Together, these projects are expected to drastically reduce travel time from Noida to IGI Airport, potentially cutting it down to just 20 minutes. This enhanced airport connectivity will greatly benefit residents of north Delhi, west Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab, facilitating smoother and more efficient travel to and from the airport. The NHAI official highlighted the UER-II project's conceptualization by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) as part of the Delhi Master Plan, which envisioned it as the third Ring Road of Delhi. The official acknowledged the project's initial setbacks due to various challenges and hurdles, leading to the NHAI's declaration of UER-II as a national highway to facilitate its development. The UER-II project was divided into five packages, spanning a total length of 75.71 kilometers and incurring a capital cost of Rs 6,445 crore. Of this total length, 54.21 kilometers fall within Delhi, while the remaining 21.50 kilometers are located in Haryana. The official also highlighted the strategic importance of the spurs to Sonipat Bypass and Bahadurgarh bypass, which are designed as four-lane access-controlled highways, while the main alignment is a six-lane road. These spurs will further decongest existing roads and provide enhanced connectivity to key areas in Haryana.
The initial phase of the UER-II project, a 10-kilometer section between Nangloi and Dwarka, was opened to the public in March 2024. The final Alipur-Dichaon Kalan stretch, along with spurs to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, is now being inaugurated, marking the completion of the entire project. The new section has a total cost of Rs 5,580 crore. The spurs to Sonipat Bypass and Bahadurgarh bypass are crucial components of the UER-II project, designed to alleviate traffic congestion on existing national highways and improve connectivity to key areas in Haryana. The four-lane access-controlled highways will provide a smoother and more efficient route for commuters traveling to and from these regions. The main alignment of the UER-II is a six-lane road, designed to handle a high volume of traffic and ensure a smooth and efficient flow of vehicles. This robust infrastructure is essential for facilitating trade and commerce, as well as improving the overall quality of life for residents in the region. Starting from NH-44 and terminating at Dwarka Sector 24, the UER-II is built in five packages, including the already operational Nangloi-Dwarka link. These packages are designed to provide seamless connectivity across the region, reducing travel time and improving traffic flow. The fourth package, NH-344P, is a 30 km spur to Sonipat, starting from Bawana Industrial Area. It will decongest the existing NH-44 and provide connectivity from Delhi to KMPE and the Delhi-Katra Expressway (through KMPE). This spur is crucial for improving connectivity to industrial areas and facilitating trade and commerce. The last and fifth package is a spur to the Bahadurgarh bypass starting from Village Dichaon Kalan. The seven km NH-344N will decongest the existing NH-09 in Delhi and provide connectivity to Eastern Haryana—the Rohtak/Bahadurgarh area in NCR—with southwest Delhi. This spur is designed to alleviate traffic congestion on existing national highways and improve connectivity to key areas in Haryana. The engineering and sustainability features of the UER-II project are also noteworthy. Built at a capital cost of Rs 6,445 crore, the entire UER-II length includes six multi-level interchanges, 27 flyovers, 11 underpasses, 2 road overbridges, 31 bus bays, and over 110 km of service roads. These features are designed to ensure a smooth and efficient flow of traffic, minimizing congestion and reducing travel time.
To cross the Mungeshpur Drain, the highway has a 2-km elevated stretch supported on 32 portals without disturbing the waterway. This innovative engineering solution minimizes environmental impact and ensures the smooth flow of water. Sustainability was a key focus while building the highway—about 10 lakh metric tons of inert waste from Delhi’s Bhalaswa and Ghazipur landfills were reused, while 10,000 trees were transplanted along the alignment. This demonstrates a commitment to environmentally responsible construction practices and reduces the environmental footprint of the project. The reuse of inert waste from landfills helps to reduce the amount of waste being dumped in landfills, while the transplantation of trees helps to offset the environmental impact of the construction. The Road Ahead for the UER-II project includes two extensions planned for an even smoother commute. A 20 km extension of the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway from UER-II at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore, linking IGI Airport via UER-II. This extension will further improve airport connectivity and reduce travel time. A 17 km extension of UER-II to Tronica City is planned at a cost of Rs 3,350 crore to serve as an alternate route to Dehradun, which connects with the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. This extension will provide an alternative route to Dehradun, reducing congestion on existing roads and improving travel time. The completion of the UER-II project marks a significant milestone in Delhi's urban development and promises a considerable improvement in the daily commute for thousands of residents. The project's strategic connectivity, innovative engineering solutions, and commitment to sustainability make it a valuable asset for the region. The UER-II project exemplifies the government's commitment to improving infrastructure and connectivity in the National Capital Region (NCR). The project's completion is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, the environment, and the overall quality of life for residents in the region. The UER-II represents a significant investment in the future of Delhi and the surrounding region. It is a testament to the government's commitment to improving infrastructure and connectivity, and it promises to have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of residents. The new road will undoubtedly offer faster, easier and more fuel-efficient routes for commuters. The Western Ring Road is built for years to come, and will most certainly boost economic development in the northern regions. While the road's development was long and arduous, citizens and officials involved agree that it was worth the wait. With all the new highway infrastructure opening up across India, the future of transportation in the country looks bright.