The much-delayed Delhi-Jaipur Expressway would be completed by June, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
He also said that he Centre is ready to build four bypasses by December for important towns if Rajasthan government offers land.
"Finances for this crucial highway project, which has already been delayed, have been arranged. Eighty-five per cent of the work has been done and the project would be completed by June this year," he said.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who met Gadkari today, sought the former's intervention in improving the condition of the crucial highway linking the national capital to the pink city.
Gadkari said it has been a priority area for his Ministry to ensure the completion of the project.
Rathore said the highway is important for business, tourism and cargo and is the lifeline of Jaipur (Rural) Lok Sabha constituency, which he represents.
The Delhi-Jaipur highway project has been delayed due to various reasons including land acquisition and contractual issues. The project cost of the 272 km highway is also likely to shoot up from Rs 11,750 crore, sources said.
The vital road caters to six of its Assembly constituencies - Kotputli, Bansur, Viratnagar, Shahpura, Amer and Jamva Ramgarh.
Rathore also asked Gadkari to ensure building of four bypasses to facilitate movement of villagers, besides early completion of six-laning of Gurgaon-Kotputli-Jaipur section of NH-8.
"Out of 57 structures to be completed which include flyovers, vehicle underpasses and pedestrian underpasses, 46 have already been completed while seven more will be done by the end of June this year.
"The work for the remaining four structures is also under progress and will be completed soon," an official statement said.
Rathore also suggested that bypasses should be constructed at Behror, Kotputli, Paota and Shahpura as a long term solution and Rajasthan Government may be approached for making land available for the purpose.
As per the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, the cost of the four bypasses of 10 km each would be around Rs 600 crore.