The long-pending Ring Road construction and Bijli Bamba Bypass widening projects in Meerut appear to be caught in yet another round of delays. Despite previous discussions at the government level and completion of an alignment survey, a new survey has now been initiated by the Meerut Development Authority (MeDA) to explore the possibility of executing both projects under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This means that several more months will likely be spent on proposals before construction can begin.
The Ring Road, stretching from the Bulandshahr-Hapur Highway to the Doon Bypass via the Jurranpur railway line and Delhi Road, will require the acquisition of approximately 15 hectares of land at an estimated cost of Rs 162 crore.
Construction of the road, including 10 underpasses, 3-4 flyovers, drainage, and electrification, is projected to cost Rs 300 crore. MeDA has earmarked Rs 100 crore from its own funds for land acquisition, with the remaining Rs 262 crore expected from the government. Meanwhile, widening of the Bijli Bamba Bypass is estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore.
Funding constraints have been a major obstacle, prompting the government to consider a PPP model for both projects. However, no official communication or letter has been received from the government confirming allocations so far.
The deadlock surrounding the overbridge section adds to the delay. Laid in 2011, the foundation stone included a plan where MeDA would acquire the land, PWD would construct the road, and Railways would build the overbridge. While the Railways completed the overbridge, MeDA failed to acquire the land, leaving the approach road unfinished and the overbridge unusable. Subsequent proposals sent to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the government, costing Rs 300 crore and Rs 291 crore, were rejected, prolonging the standstill.
A new proposal suggested constructing a 24-metre-wide road in two sections, with MeDA contributing Rs 100 crore and Rs 62 crore expected from the government for land acquisition, alongside government funding for road construction. Yet, neither the funds nor official approvals have materialised, leading to the current decision to conduct a fresh survey.
Officials now hope that the new survey under the PPP framework will pave the way for breaking the long-standing impasse on these critical infrastructure projects in Meerut.