New Delhi, July 10 -- Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has urged Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to declare South Delhi's Mandi Road a National Highway and bring it under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), saying the move would improve connectivity across Delhi-NCR and support regional economic growth.
In a letter to Gadkari, Gupta said the 8.8-km-long Mandi Road is a strategically important transport corridor connecting Mehrauli-Gurugram Road (NH-148A) near Chhatarpur Metro Station with the Gurugram-Faridabad Road at the Delhi-Haryana border. She said the road serves as a key link between Delhi and the neighbouring economic centres of Gurugram and Faridabad while facilitating smooth inter-state traffic movement.
Calling for the road's inclusion under the NHAI, Gupta said, "Mandi Road is a key strategic transport corridor in Delhi-NCR." She added that its strategic importance, increasing traffic volume and direct connectivity with NH-148A make it suitable for National Highway status.
The Chief Minister also referred to the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC), noting that its 68th Governing Body meeting held on September 27, 2023, had recognised the importance of Mandi Road and supported its widening and comprehensive development. In her letter, Gupta requested Gadkari to "declare Mandi Road a National Highway and entrust its development to the NHAI so that an integrated development plan can be prepared, uniform engineering standards can be adopted, and the timely upgradation of this important corridor can be ensured."
She said the proposal would improve daily commuting and strengthen regional infrastructure. "The initiative would provide better and smoother travel for commuters who use the road every day. It would also strengthen connectivity across Delhi-NCR and give fresh momentum to regional economic growth," she said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.