The Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), which consumed 5 lakh tonne of cement and 1 lakh tonne of steel, is going to be completed in a record time of about 500 days against a target of 910 days. The expressway will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29. Here are some facts about the new road.

Distance and cost

The 135-km six-lane access-controlled expressway, built at a cost of nearly Rs 11,000 crore will help decongest the national capital along with the first phase of Delhi-Meerut Expressway. The cost of construction alone was Rs 4,420 crore.

Tech all-along

The EPE is equipped with smart and intelligent highway traffic management system (HTMS) and video incident detection system (VIDS) besides a closed tolling system in which the collections will be made only on the distance traveled and not on the entire length and would be lit with solar lights.

Apart from Highway Traffic Management System (HTMS) that includes Variable Message Signs (VMS) CCTV, Video Incident Detection System (VIDS), Warning Devices, Over Speed Checking System, Weigh-in-Motion, Pavement Management Systems and Fiber Optic Network, it will have real-time incident management.

To bring down pollution

The expressway will divert an estimated 2 lakh vehicles passing through the national capital daily to this bypass. This will help in decongesting Delhi and its adjoining areas as no commercial vehicle (which is not destined for Delhi) can enter Delhi.

Going green

This is the first expressway in the country with solar power for lighting on the entire expressway. There are 8 solar power plants on this expressway having a capacity of 4000- kilowatt (4 MW). For plantation, drip irrigation has been used in the central median as well as for avenue plantation.

The interchanges have been developed architecturally with beautiful plantation merged with fountains and 28 fountains have been installed. About 1.5 crore cum fly ash has been used in the project and about 20,000 trucks of earth were carried out in a single day to expedite the project.

EPE amenities

Along the expressway, wayside amenities are being developed at six locations which will have the facility of petrol pumps, motels, rest areas, washrooms, restaurants, shops, repair services etc. to cater the various needs of the expressway users, he said adding a total of about 2.5 lakh trees will be planted as green belt.

Besides rainwater harvesting in the project, thirty-six monuments like Ashoka lion, Konark Temple, Jaliyanwala Bagh, Ashoka Chakra, Gateway of India, Qutab Minar, Char Minar, Lal Quila, Kirti Stambh, India Gate and Hawa Mahal have been installed.

courtesy: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com