PM Narendra Modi's New Year gift - 14-lane, Rs 7500 cr Delhi-Meerut Expressway

PM Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Delhi-Meerut Expressway project. (Pic courtesy: MIB)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of ambitious Delhi-Meerut Expressway project, which is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the national capital. The Prime Minister had launched three important highway projects worth Rs 10,166 crore to decongest Delhi last month.

Here are the live updates:-

31 December 2015

13:06 IST

I urge all political parties to take a resolution for 2016 that they will let Parliament function and work for the benefit of poor: PM Modi.

13:02 IST

Allow us to do our duty: PM Modi

I urge all political parties that the people of India have elected us to discuss, debate, deliberate in Parliament: PM

Sadly, those who were rejected by people have held Parliament hostage and are not letting it function: PM

PM Modi attacks Opposition for disrupting Parliament and blocking nation's progress.

12:57 IST

I request the CM of UP to also implement this and announce this no interviews scheme-PM Modi

PM Modi also announces there will be no interviews for junior level in Group C and D in Central Government jobs from January 1.

Delhi-Meerut Expressway is a New Year gift from NDA govt to people: PM 

12:54 IST

Which is why after Kedarnath tragedy, we worked towards ensuring pilgrims from across India and outside won't face any difficulty in future: PM

The character of my government is to convert adversities into opportunities: PM

12:50 IST

This expressway will generate opportunities for weekend-tourism and create thousands of jobs: PM Modi

12:47 IST

When we connect one city with other cities over a radius of 100 kms by road, then it takes development to new levels: PM

A good road network around Delhi will be beneficial: PM

Many middle class and upper middle class families now plan weekend outings: PM

12:43 IST

To connect rural India, he launched PM Gram Sadak Yojana: PM

Vajpayee ji worked to connect India through Golden Quadrilateral Project: PM

We are not merely constructing a road, this is a highway to development: PM

12:39 IST

Atal ji initiated projects to bring about changes in rural life of India by increasing connectivity between villages: PM

The people in villages know that if they want to be connected with development, they have to connect their village with good roads: PM

Today, people in villages want four lane and Pevar roads: PM

12:35 IST

This road will pave way for pollution-free future: PM Modi

Meerut is especially remembered for its key role in the 1857 first war of Independence: PM

PM Modi is addressing the gathering at the Noida event.

12:30 IST

PM Modi lays foundation stone for 14-lane Delhi-Meerut Expressway, which is likely to be completed in 30 months.

PM @narendramodi lays Foundation Stone for Delhi-Dasna-Meerut Expressway & Upgradat'n of Dasna- Hapur Sect'n of NH24 pic.twitter.com/dw8cB6GIhk

— PIB India (@PIB_India) December 31, 2015

12:23 IST

Delhi to Meerut travel time which is approx 2:30-3 hours will be reduced to 40-45 mins after construction of this expressway: Gadkari

12:17 IST

Inauguration of NH24 will benefit people from Ghaziabad, Delhi, Noida, Muzzafarpur, Meerut: Gadkari.

We are also working on a highway project which will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun to about 3 hours: Gadkaria

Project is unique and will benefit crore of people. It will save 2 hours of commuters daily: Gadkari

12:17 IST

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari speaking at foundation stone laying ceremony of Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

12:14 IST

Union Minister Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari welcomes PM Modi.

12:09 IST

A view of huge crowd gathered at the venue.

PM Shri @narendramodi arrives at the venue. Watch LIVE at https://t.co/Hbi4Ggf7gG. #CongestionFreeNCR pic.twitter.com/gpQeBD9T1F

— Yuva TV (@YuvaiTV) December 31, 2015

12:03 IST

PM Narendra Modi reaches Noida, to lay foundation stone of Delhi-Meerut Expressway in a short while from now.

PM @narendramodi being received by the Governor of UP Shri Ram Naik at Noida pic.twitter.com/8OB2vy7CZD

— PIB India (@PIB_India) December 31, 2015

11:02 IST

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways today informed about the event through its official Twitter handle.

pic.twitter.com/6HpXXUJRoT

— MORTHINDIA (@MORTHIndia) December 31, 2015

11:00 IST

UP Governor Ram Naik, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and many other distinguished guests will also grace the occasion.

10:10 IST

Akhilesh Yadav has nominated UP Panchyati Raj Minister Kailash Yadav to represent the CM in today's event.

09:47 IST

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav is not likely to attend the event.

09:43 IST

The total land required for three packages is 348.6 hectares of which 343.36 hectare has already been acquired.

The 87 km project besides 9 km connector will have 6 lane expressway and 4+4 lane highway, service roads, cycle tracks, flyovers, elevated sections, major and minor bridges, railway overbridges, vehicular underpasses and pedestrian underpasses, as per govt plan.

It is proposed that new alignment of the expressway from Dasna to Meerut and six-laning of Connector is also to be taken after the completion of 90 per cent land acquisition.

09:41 IST

Bids for the Delhi-Hapur section of NH-24 project in three packages on new hybrid annuity model have been invited by the government.

The fourth package will be a new alignment of Delhi Meerut Expressway from Dasna to Meerut and six laning of connector.

09:37 IST

The project is proposed under four packages with the three packages Nizamuddin Bridge to UP Border, UP Border to Dasna and Dasna to Hapur at an estimated cost of Rs 2,809.6 crore.

The alignment of Delhi-Meerut Express will start from Nizammudin Bridge from Delhi and will continue on existing NH 24 upto Dasna.

09:32 IST

An urgent need for an expressway was felt for unhindered fast and safe travel from Delhi to Meerut and vice versa and accordingly the project was prepared.

There is only one route - NH-58 between Delhi and Meerut on which the traffic remains jammed at several places, thus causing a lot of inconvenience to people commuting between Delhi and Meerut.

09:26 IST

The Prime Minister last month laid the foundation stone of 341 km three national highway projects - the Eastern Peripheral Highway, Western Peripheral Highway and 8 laning of the National Highway between Mukarba Chowk in Delhi and Panipat in Haryana.