Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway set for delay

Hindustan Times

Aimed at easing traffic off Delhi roads and providing alternate route to vehicles from neighboring states which use Capital roads for crossing over, India's longest signal-free Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway is all set to miss its deadline of July 2009.

Also known as Western Peripheral Expressway, this Rs. 1,915 Crore project is part of the proposed Ring Road around Delhi and is supposed to touch Eastern Peripheral Expressway on both its ends. However, the latter part of the ring is still to take off. KMP Expressway is the dream project of the Haryana Government.

Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) awarded the project to a special purpose vehicle company KMP Expressway Limited (KMPEL). The project was given on a BOT (build operate and transfer) basis with construction period of 36 months ending July next year.

Speaking to HT , Rajiv Arora, Managing Director, HSIIDC confirmed the KMP Expressway project was set to miss its July 2009 deadline. He refused to give a definite time frame as to when the project is to be completed. Even H.S. Kohli, Chairman, KMPEL admitted the project would not take off in totality by July next year but said the company would open a portion of it for vehicular traffic.

When asked whether the project would be ready before 2010 Commonwealth Games, Kohli replied, "Much before that."

Kohli attributed the possible delay to change in design and delay in transfer of land. Earlier only flyovers were planned on highway intersections but later these were upgraded to interchanges. However, HSIIDC denied the lag was because of the change in design and said it was probably because of delay in funding from financial institutions following litigations.

Kohli added, "We would open a portion of it in July next year. We would, however, be missing on the interchanges as we are still to get land from the Haryana Government. The delay is also because of the change in the design of the project," he claimed.

Kohli is also one of the directors in DS Constructions, the concessionaires of Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.

Meanwhile Arora said, "It is quite evident now the project would be delayed, despite the fact we had transferred the required land for right of way (ROW) to the company KMPEL in time. The delay has been caused because the company did not get loan following litigation cases. There was no delay in acquiring land for ROW and transferring it to the company."