New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- Chief minister Rekha Gupta has approved a Rs.453.95 crore project to construct a nearly 61-kilometre road network along both sides of the Najafgarh drain, aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between rural Delhi and the city's arterial roads. The decision was cleared during a meeting of the Finance Expenditure Committee, chaired by the CM at the Delhi Secretariat, which was also attended by Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Verma. "The primary objective of this project is to reduce congestion on major roads, cut travel time and fuel consumption and lower vehicular emissions. The corridor will provide an alternative route within the capital's transport network," said Gupta. The project entails building a two-lane road with a total developed length of 60.77 kilometres. A 5.94-km stretch will be constructed on the left bank from Jhatikra Bridge to Chhawla Bridge. From Chhawla to Basaidarapur, roads will be developed on both sides across 27.415 kilometres, bringing the total combined road network to 54.83 kilometres, officials added. The corridor will integrate with key roads including the Inner Ring Road at Basaidarapur, Outer Ring Road at Keshopur, Pankha Road, Najafgarh Road, and Urban Extension Road-II, which connects to NH-9 and the Dwarka Expressway. Officials stated that the corridor will improve access for localities such as Uttam Nagar, Vikaspuri, Najafgarh, Dwarka, and the IGI Airport, as well as villages along the Dwarka Expressway. The plan includes a seven-metre-wide carriageway, separate tracks for pedestrians and cyclists, a new bridge near the Dwarka Metro Depot, landscaping, streetlighting, and drainage improvements. The CM confirmed the project has technical approval and aims to complete administrative approvals by March 2026, with construction starting in May 2026 and finishing by November 2027. "We aim to grant the necessary administrative approvals by March 2026, complete the tendering process by April 2026 and commence construction by May 2026," she said....