Commuters to get toilet, ambulance, petrol pump and other facilities on Eastern, Western Peripheral Expressway

New Delhi: Good news for Eastern, Western Peripheral Expressway commuters! The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) have been directed by the Delhi High Court to ensure that basic amenities like petrol pumps, toilets, ambulance etc.

are available on Peripheral Expressway and the Western Peripheral Expressways as early as possible. 

NHAI and HSIIDC are directed by the court to ensure that the basic amenities like Petrol Pumps, Toilet Complex, ambulance and emergency facilities, eateries, Police Patrolling etc. are provided on Kundli-Manesar-Pawal (KMP) and Kundli-Ghaziabad-Pawal Expressway.

Petitioner Amit Sahni had filed a petition asking the court to pass further directions that the wayside amenities be integrally planned and developed along with National Highways and such amenities be made operational for all its future projects before the commencement of toll collection on all such highways, in order to ensure safety and security of the commuters and for seeking further directions.

The court disposed off the petition saying, "Having heard counsel for the parties and looking to the facts and circumstances of the case, it appears that this petitioner is seeking availability of variety of facilities/amenities like petrol pump, toilet complex, ambulance, emergency facilities, eateries, police patrolling etc. on Kundali-Manesar-Palwal expressway as well as on Kundali-Ghaziabad-Palwal expressway."

"It ought to be kept in mind that these types of facilities/amenities cannot be developed/introduced overnight by the respondents at a particular place. Some time is bound to be consumed by the respondents. We, therefore, direct the respondents to ensure the availability of the facilities as mentioned in this writ petition on the aforesaid expressways as early as possible and practicable looking at the availability of the funds and priority of the other works pending with the respondents. Needless to say, if these facilities are already provided, the same shall be maintained by the respondents to ensure effective use", it added.

Note that Amit Sahni in his petition stated that no such facilities were available on Western Peripheral Expressway or Kundli-Manesar-Pawal (KMP) Expressway, which was made operational nearly two years ago. However, the plea also mentioned that some facilities are available on Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal (KGP) Expressway which was inaugurated last year in November by PM Modi.

The petition also stated that other national highways that are connected to Delhi have basic amenities such as helplines for an ambulance, emergency services, crane, route patrol, nearest police station, and hospital. Sahni added that on April 1, he made a representation to the NHAI but no action was taken after which he approached the high court.

It is worth mentioning that the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways were constructed with an expectation to divert over 50,000 heavy vehicles from the national capital in order to help maintain the good air quality in the city. Also, both these expressways complete the largest ring road around Delhi.