Yamuna Expressway: Samajwadi Party government unwilling to give nod to project awarded by former BSP government
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अर्णब् मुखर्जी
Jul 4, 2012, 8:33:31 PM7/4/12
to YEIDA
5 Jul, 2012, 05.13AM IST, RAVI TEJA SHARMA & MANMOHAN RAI,ET Bureau
Yamuna Expressway: Samajwadi Party government unwilling to give nod to
project awarded by former BSP government
NEW DELHI | LUCKNOW: Curious commuters are enjoying joyrides across
India's newest stretch of shimmering asphalt by greasing the palms of
the private guards on duty, while politics threaten to erect
roadblocks against its formal opening.
The 165-km Yamuna Expressway on the outskirts of Delhi promises to
reduce travel time between Greater Noida and Agra by half, besides
unleashing a frenzy of development on either side of India's longest
toll road right through to the city of the Taj Mahal.
The six-lane highway, extendable to eight lanes, will have closed-
circuit cameras at every 5 km and a highway patrol at every 25 km, in
addition to mobile radars along the all-concrete road to monitor
compliance with speed limits.
But the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government is yet to give a
go-ahead to the Rs 13,000-crore project, which was commissioned by the
previous dispensation in Lucknow.
As a result, commuters, including foreign tourists, are being denied
access to a hassle-free ride to the country's prime tourist
destination. At the same time, the builder of the access-controlled
highway, Jaypee Infratech, stands to lose about Rs 50 crore a month,
at a conservative estimated traffic of 50,000 vehicles a day and a
toll of Rs 300 for a return trip.
The project, awarded by the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party
government to what many said was its favourite builder, appears to
have fallen prey to wrangling over its political ownership. The SP
government sees few political dividends in facilitating a project that
remains closely associated with its vanquished rival.
During a debate in the state assembly in March, Akhilesh Yadav had
referred to the project as an "expressway of scams meant to provide
huge undue favours to a select company".
Last month, when Yadav made a detour while campaigning for a by-poll
in Maanth assembly constituency and travelled a considerable length on
the expressway, he pointed out that the ride was bumpy at some places
and commented on the lack of greenery along the expressway.
The state government says the project will be given a green signal
only after the supporting infrastructure around the expressway is
entirely completed. The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development
Authority (YEIDA) has, therefore, not issued a completion certificate
and the toll to be charged is also yet to be finalised.
"The state government is yet to receive the completion certificate of
the project from YEIDA and only after that would a decision be taken
on the opening of the expressway," said Anil Kumar Gupta, the
infrastructure and industrial development commissioner of Uttar
Pradesh. A Jaypee spokesperson declined to comment on the delay.
A senior YEIDA official, who did not wish to be named, said four of
the six proposed interchanges are ready. Work on the remaining two
will take another 20-30 days, the official said, adding that
construction of the three toll plazas and work on medical facilities
and refuelling points is also underway.
"We expect all the work to be completed within a month and then the
completion certificate will be issued," the official said, adding that
the authority has also sent a proposal to the state government for
finalising the toll rates.
However, Jaypee did not pitch for the project only because of the toll
revenue. The company also got 6,175 acres across five locations on the
expressway which will be used to develop about 530 million sq ft of
real estate. The company's Formula One racing track is close to the
expressway in Greater Noida, where it is also readying a modern
cricket stadium and another sports complex.
"Jaypee has successfully launched its real estate township in Noida,
but other land parcels become relevant only when the expressway is
operational. The fact that the expressway reduces travel time will
become clear to people only when they use it and that will help the
company sell other townships as well," said IDFC Securities analyst
Nitin Agarwal, who tracks Jaypee Infratech.
From the land that Jaypee got for the expressway, it has been selling
real estate in Noida for the past four years and some other areas in
the recent past. It has sold 43.22 million sq ft with a sale value of
over Rs 14,000 crore and advances of Rs 7,800 crore.
However, Angel Broking analyst Nitin Arora said opening of the
expressway would be significant as revenues will finally start flowing
in. Until that happens, passers-by can negotiate to pay the unofficial
toll of about 100 to zip to the monument of love.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/yamuna-expressway-samajwadi-party-government-unwilling-to-give-nod-to-project-awarded-by-former-bsp-government/articleshow/14683368.cms
Yamuna Expressway: Samajwadi Party government unwilling to give nod to
project awarded by former BSP government
NEW DELHI | LUCKNOW: Curious commuters are enjoying joyrides across
India's newest stretch of shimmering asphalt by greasing the palms of
the private guards on duty, while politics threaten to erect
roadblocks against its formal opening.
The 165-km Yamuna Expressway on the outskirts of Delhi promises to
reduce travel time between Greater Noida and Agra by half, besides
unleashing a frenzy of development on either side of India's longest
toll road right through to the city of the Taj Mahal.
The six-lane highway, extendable to eight lanes, will have closed-
circuit cameras at every 5 km and a highway patrol at every 25 km, in
addition to mobile radars along the all-concrete road to monitor
compliance with speed limits.
But the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government is yet to give a
go-ahead to the Rs 13,000-crore project, which was commissioned by the
previous dispensation in Lucknow.
As a result, commuters, including foreign tourists, are being denied
access to a hassle-free ride to the country's prime tourist
destination. At the same time, the builder of the access-controlled
highway, Jaypee Infratech, stands to lose about Rs 50 crore a month,
at a conservative estimated traffic of 50,000 vehicles a day and a
toll of Rs 300 for a return trip.
The project, awarded by the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party
government to what many said was its favourite builder, appears to
have fallen prey to wrangling over its political ownership. The SP
government sees few political dividends in facilitating a project that
remains closely associated with its vanquished rival.
During a debate in the state assembly in March, Akhilesh Yadav had
referred to the project as an "expressway of scams meant to provide
huge undue favours to a select company".
Last month, when Yadav made a detour while campaigning for a by-poll
in Maanth assembly constituency and travelled a considerable length on
the expressway, he pointed out that the ride was bumpy at some places
and commented on the lack of greenery along the expressway.
The state government says the project will be given a green signal
only after the supporting infrastructure around the expressway is
entirely completed. The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development
Authority (YEIDA) has, therefore, not issued a completion certificate
and the toll to be charged is also yet to be finalised.
"The state government is yet to receive the completion certificate of
the project from YEIDA and only after that would a decision be taken
on the opening of the expressway," said Anil Kumar Gupta, the
infrastructure and industrial development commissioner of Uttar
Pradesh. A Jaypee spokesperson declined to comment on the delay.
A senior YEIDA official, who did not wish to be named, said four of
the six proposed interchanges are ready. Work on the remaining two
will take another 20-30 days, the official said, adding that
construction of the three toll plazas and work on medical facilities
and refuelling points is also underway.
"We expect all the work to be completed within a month and then the
completion certificate will be issued," the official said, adding that
the authority has also sent a proposal to the state government for
finalising the toll rates.
However, Jaypee did not pitch for the project only because of the toll
revenue. The company also got 6,175 acres across five locations on the
expressway which will be used to develop about 530 million sq ft of
real estate. The company's Formula One racing track is close to the
expressway in Greater Noida, where it is also readying a modern
cricket stadium and another sports complex.
"Jaypee has successfully launched its real estate township in Noida,
but other land parcels become relevant only when the expressway is
operational. The fact that the expressway reduces travel time will
become clear to people only when they use it and that will help the
company sell other townships as well," said IDFC Securities analyst
Nitin Agarwal, who tracks Jaypee Infratech.
From the land that Jaypee got for the expressway, it has been selling
real estate in Noida for the past four years and some other areas in
the recent past. It has sold 43.22 million sq ft with a sale value of
over Rs 14,000 crore and advances of Rs 7,800 crore.
However, Angel Broking analyst Nitin Arora said opening of the
expressway would be significant as revenues will finally start flowing
in. Until that happens, passers-by can negotiate to pay the unofficial
toll of about 100 to zip to the monument of love.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/yamuna-expressway-samajwadi-party-government-unwilling-to-give-nod-to-project-awarded-by-former-bsp-government/articleshow/14683368.cms
Anupam Mazumdar
Jul 5, 2012, 3:29:51 AM7/5/12
to ye...@googlegroups.com
This was expected with the SP government. This will not occur easily for another 5 years, till the government changes (if).
Also, i am sure, its not easy even to get the Expressway operational with this government.
Anupam Mazumdar
piyush
Jul 5, 2012, 4:11:26 AM7/5/12
to ye...@googlegroups.com
Don't worry. The expressway will be opened soon when negotiation are over :-)
Another truth is Highway is still short of basic amenities like restaurant, petrol pump etc
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