FCC

GMDA starts bids for Dwarka E-way service road construction

2023-08-31

Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has commenced the bidding process for constructing service roads along the Dwarka Expressway. The project aims to enhance intra-city travel for numerous families residing in the new sectors. Currently, five agencies have expressed interest and submitted technical bids, with at least three of them being deemed eligible.

The proposed service roads will span 15.3km on both sides of the expressway, covering sectors 81 to 115 in both directions. These roads will extend from the expressway's junction with the Central Peripheral Road to the Delhi-Haryana border. With around 200 societies in these sectors and a growing population, these service roads will act as a crucial "lifeline" for parallel traffic, granting access to commuters from neighbouring areas.

The estimated cost of constructing these roads is Rs 9.32 billion, and the project is anticipated to take approximately two-and-a-half years to complete after the contract is awarded. Although the expressway is expected to open to traffic later this year, residents of the new sectors won't have direct access to the access-controlled corridor until 2026. Until then, they will have to rely on limited options for accessing the expressway.

Sangeeta Singh, a resident of sector 82, emphasised the importance of the project in improving connectivity and minimising detours between sectors. However, she urged that the project should be expedited to avoid hindering traffic after the expressway's opening.

Originally planned in 2020, administrative approval for the service lane project was granted in June 2022. The tender for construction was initially invited in November of the previous year, but due to limited interest, the process was restarted in January. After facing similar challenges, the tender was floated for a third time in June. Presently, three bids out of the five received have met the eligibility criteria in the technical evaluation phase, and financial scrutiny will follow before the project is allotted.