Nine companies have submitted bids for the strengthening and upgradation of a 5.5-kilometre stretch from Vatika Chowk to the clover leaf on NH 48, according to GMDA officials. The project, valued at Rs 900.65 million, is expected to be awarded to one of the bidders soon. The upgradation will involve overlaying the existing road with bituminous concrete, enhancing ridership, and reducing congestion. Additionally, slip roads will be constructed, and pedestrian footpaths will be repaired for safer and smoother movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The contract is expected to be finalised by the end of February. The GMDA is also advancing the process of hiring a consultant for the construction of a five-kilometre elevated road along the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR). Five companies have placed bids for the consultancy work, which is worth Rs 5 million. The elevated road project, with an estimated cost of Rs 7.50 billion, aims to alleviate congestion, especially during peak traffic, at key intersections such as sectors 69, 70, and 71/72, among others. Traffic studies predict that grade separation will be required at these junctions within the next decade due to expected traffic volumes exceeding 10,000 cars per hour. Furthermore, the GMDA has opened a tender to hire a consultant for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the elevated road connecting Vatika Chowk and the clover leaf on the Dwarka Expressway near NH 48. The 5.5-kilometre-long elevated road, already approved by the state government, will cost Rs 7.50 billion and is expected to improve traffic flow on the Dwarka Expressway and NH 48. The award for the DPR work is also anticipated by the end of this month. News source: Hindustan Times