Delhi may appoint consultant to assess snarls on new flyover

The constant traffic snarls on the newly opened Barapullah Phase-III flyover have prompted the Delhi government to consider integrating the corridor with surrounding roads.

Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Wednesday said a joint assessment by his department and Delhi Traffic Police had identified the merger point where traffic from different directions is funnelled into fewer lanes as a key area requiring intervention. He said the PWD is examining a dedicated U-turn or diversion on Ring Road near Shree Bala Sahib Ji Gurdwara to provide residents of Siddhartha Extension direct access to the approach road towards INA and AIIMS.

The proposed U-turn aims to reduce unnecessary diversions and prevent local traffic from conflicting with vehicles using the main corridor, the Minister said, adding that it would also give residents a more direct route to south Delhi without making additional movements through the congested junction.

The government plans to appoint a traffic and structural design consultant to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the corridor and recommend both short-term and long-term interventions, Mr. Singh said.

Smoother movement 

“The PWD is working with Traffic Police on measures such as better utilisation of road space, improved lane channelisation and smoother movement between Sarai Kale Khan, Ring Road and ITO,” said the Minister.

He said the government’s immediate responsibility is to ensure that commuters do not continue to bear the brunt of the problems. Delhi Traffic Police has continued to issue advisories asking commuters to avoid the stretch amid persistent congestion and bottlenecks near the Sundial Park junction.

He said the congestion could not be viewed in isolation from the elevated corridor, given its interaction with the DND Flyway, National Highway 24, Ring Roadand the Sarai Kale Khan transit hub.

He said the government is also coordinating on the mapping of the new corridor on Google Maps.