Modi opens Delhi legs of 2 key highways to slash travel times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed recent roadworks in the Delhi NCR as revolutionary as he inaugurated the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), along with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini.

- Soumya Chatterjee

Referring to the projects inaugurated on Sunday, Modi said they will increase the convenience of the people of the NCR region, and everyone's time will be saved. “Our government has worked on this at multiple levels. In the past 11 years, travel has become easier in Delhi NCR,” Modi said. In his 20-odd-minute speech, PM Modi spoke about a wide range of issues of a self-reliant and secure India, impending GST reforms and reiterating his “vocal for local”.

Referring to his Independence Day speech from Red Fort, PM said that Delhi has to be made a development model for the whole country. “Friends, when the world looks at India, it first looks at our capital, our Delhi. That is why we have to make Delhi a model of development, where everyone feels that yes, this is the developed capital of India.”

He said Delhi already has one of the world’s largest metro networks, and it also has a modern rapid rail system like Namo Bharat connecting to other nearby states. Modi said the UER project is also helping Delhi get rid of legacy waste from the mountains.

“To make Urban Extension Road, lakhs of tonnes of waste have been put to work by reducing the mountains of waste, and it has been done scientifically.” The PM also mentioned that the government is working to alleviate the problems felt by the residents living near the Bhalswa landfill.