Will save fuel worth Rs 15 lakh daily: Baalu Manish Sirhindi Tribune News Service Panipat, July 16 To ease out congestion in the city on the NH-1, the 10 km Panipat elevated highway that includes a 3.4 km flyover on the North-South Corridor was today inaugurated by union minister for shipping, road transport and highways T.R. Baalu along with state Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Speaking on the occasion, the union minister said the Rs 418 crore project had been completed six months ahead of schedule and it would provide a big relief to a large number of road users in Panipat and other commuters using the NH-1. He said the project would lead to the overall development of Panipat and the adjoining areas, besides boosting the economy of the region. The foundation stone of the project had been laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April 2006 and it was scheduled to be completed in January next year. Making a special mention of the benefit of the project, particularly in the context of rising international oil prices, the minister said it would result in considerable savings in terms of travel time and fuel. Travelling through this particular stretch on this national highway would take less than 10 minutes which earlier used to take 45 to 90 minutes. This, he saidm, would save about 30,000 litres of fuel each day, effecting a saving of about Rs 15 lakh per day on fuel alone. This new facility has been implemented on the build, operate and transfer basis (BOT) with "negative grant'. The flyover would be maintained by the concessionaire for a 20-year period, including the construction period. The elevated highway has six lanes stretched over 10 km, including a 3.4 km flyover. Besides, 9-metre-wide peripheral roads have also been provided on either side to cater to the local traffic without interfering with long-distance main traffic. Three under-passes have also been provided. Hooda, while speaking on the occasion, said the Congress government was committed to the overall development of the state and with adequate help from the union government, the state was fast moving on the path of progress. He said besides the Panipat flyover, several other projects were also in the pipeline which, once completed, would change the infrastructure scenes across the state. Also present on the occasion were K.H. Muniyappa, minister of state in the ministry of shipping, road transport and highways, MP Arvind Sharma, local MLA Balbir Pal Shah, chairman of the NHAI N. Gokul Ram and secretary, union transport ministry, Brahm Dutt, who also spoke on the occasion.