Five firms bag eastern expressway project.

Sadbhav Engineering Ltd., Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, Ashoka Buildcon, Gayatri Projects Ltd and Oriental Structural Engineers have bagged six contracts for the Centre's most ambitious project to decongest Delhi. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) is expected to be commissioned by July 2018. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is executing the project under six packages through the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) mode. According to officials, the foundation stone of the 135-km long expressway passing through Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, is likely to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the model code of conduct for the Haryana panchayat polls is lifted. The total cost of the project is around Rs. 7,558 crore including Rs. 1,795.20 crore for land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The government has already acquired 1,568 hectares, out of the total 1,631.50 hectares required for the project. "The construction period is 30 months and the project is likely to be completed within the July 2018 deadline fixed by the Supreme Court. We have set a deadline to complete the project by May 2018," said a senior NHAI official. He added the expressway would be of concrete and will have wayside amenities like parking space, hotels, motels, eateries and toilet blocks among others.