New Delhi: Shri Harsh Malhotra, Hon’ble Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport and Highways and Member of Parliament, East Delhi Lok Sabha, today laid the foundation stones for two Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) at Geeta Colony/Gandhi Nagar (Km 5+100) and Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar (Km 2+800) on the Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) in East Delhi.
The occasion was graced by Shri Arvinder Singh Lovely, MLA, Gandhi Nagar and Chairman, Trans Yamuna Development Board; Shri Abhay Verma, MLA, Laxmi Nagar and Chief Whip, Delhi Legislative Assembly; Dr. Anil Goyal, MLA, Krishna Nagar; local councillors and prominent citizens of the area.
The Minister said that the initiative reflects the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for modern, citizen-centric infrastructure that directly improves ease of living and safer mobility. He said that under his leadership and the guidance of Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, India has witnessed rapid development of modern expressways, high-capacity road corridors and public safety initiatives.
Shri Harsh Malhotra stated that the initiative marks an important step towards enhancing pedestrian safety and improving everyday mobility for residents of East Delhi. He said that the Delhi section of the Expressway passes through densely populated areas and connects major residential, commercial and local movement corridors, making safe pedestrian infrastructure particularly important.
The FOBs will be equipped with lift facilities, providing safe, dedicated and convenient pedestrian crossings while reducing pedestrian-vehicle interaction and facilitating uninterrupted vehicular movement. The lifts will also improve accessibility for senior citizens, persons with mobility challenges, students, workers and other pedestrians.
In addition to the two FOBs, one more Foot Over Bridge has been approved at Km 10+800 near Bhajanpura, Garhi Mendu. The total cost of the three Foot Over Bridges will be ₹12.8 crore.
The Minister also highlighted that parking facilities under the elevated portion of the Delhi section of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway have been started and the comprehensive beautification plan for the Delhi stretch of the Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B, Phase-I) is under progress.
These initiatives will enable optimal utilisation of the space beneath the elevated corridor, improve parking management and provide public amenities such as EV charging, toilets and other facilities. They would further support traffic decongestion and enhance the overall aesthetics of the corridor, benefiting residents, traders and daily commuters.
Shri Malhotra also highlighted that solar panels are being installed along the elevated stretch of the Delhi section of the Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun Highway. The initiative will promote the use of renewable energy for highway-related requirements, reduce dependence on conventional power sources and contribute towards lowering carbon emissions, in line with the vision of sustainable development and Net Zero by 2070.
Shri Harsh Malhotra said that from safer pedestrian crossings at Geeta Colony, Gandhi Nagar and Laxmi Nagar to the upcoming facility near Bhajanpura, Garhi Mendu, and the integration of renewable energy along the elevated highway stretch, these initiatives represent a focused effort to address the practical infrastructure needs of East Delhi and translate the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 into visible, citizen-centric outcomes.
(PIB)