This story is from December 10, 2016

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Agra bypass road

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Agra bypass road
Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
AGRA: Union minister for road transport, highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari on Saturday inaugurated the 33 km long four-lane Agra bypass project and laid the foundation of three other projects including the six lane expansion work of the 124 km Agra-Etawah stretch on National highway, which would be completed at a cost of Rs 1664 crore.
According to information, four lane Agra bypass, starting from Raipura Jat (NH-2) in Agra and ending at Badh village, Gwalior road (NH-3), was to be completed by Oct 2010 at a cost of Rs 385 crores.
However, due to the delay the project cost had escalated to Rs 450 crore.
The bypass is expected to ease traffic in the Taj city, as vehicles travelling between Delhi-Jaipur would be diverted on them. With heavy vehicles using the bypass, pollution levels in the city are also likely to drop.
Gadkari also announced to develop Agra-Bareilly national highway at a cost of Rs 1000 crore. He also announced that Yamuna's link to Agra would be among the 111 national waterways that are to be developed. Gadkari said the waterways would prove to be a game changer as they would reduce the cost of transportation for goods and passengers, besides reducing vehicular traffic on the roads. He said the waterways would also provide fillip to tourism in the region.
Incidentally, the six laning project for which the foundation which was laid by Gadkari is already having teething trouble as the ASI has lodged a police complaint demanding stoppage of the construction near protected monument Rambagh due to its proximity to newly constructed Yamuna bridge at Rambagh crossing site
When contacted, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) project director, SB Singh, admitted that ASI officials had raised objection due to proximity protected monument. He said the department had responded to them and are hopeful of resolving the issue.
Efforts to contact ASI Agra circle superintending archaeologist, Bhuvan Vikram Singh proved futile.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA