Delhi’s road infrastructure is set for a major boost in the coming years, with a slew of proposals for constructing flyovers, underpasses and an underground tunnel being cleared by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) on Thursday.
At the 54th meeting of the Governing Body of UTTIPEC, chaired by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal, proposals to construct flyovers on Outer Ring Road and extend existing ones on Ring Road were passed, as per a statement from Raj Niwas.
Grade separators
Among the proposals of the Public Works Department cleared is the construction of an underground tunnel below the India Trade Promotion Organisation at Pragati Maidan, connecting Ring Road to Mathura Road. The proposal also includes underground U-turns on Mathura Road.
To reduce congestion, a series of grade separators on Outer Ring Road will be made. In south-east Delhi, the existing Modi Mill flyover will be connected to Kalkaji flyover. The Savitri Cinema flyover will be doubled and a two-way flyover constructed on the Malviya Nagar junction. The proposal also includes the doubling of Sarai Kale Khan flyover on Ring Road.
In another proposal, Ashram flyover will be extended up to Delhi Noida Direct (DND) Flyway, facilitating a right turn for traffic coming from Kilokari village.
On Outer Ring Road, two underpasses on the stretch between Gopalpur red-light and Jagatpur Bridge that will help light motor vehicles coming from Wazirabad turn right towards Jagatpur village will be made.
The corridor development plan of GT Road from Old Yamuna Bridge to Apsara Border was passed. This included the doubling of the existing Seelampur flyover as well as a two-way flyover on the Shastri Park junction. To improve pedestrian connectivity, an underground walkway will be made from Kidwai Nagar to Dilli Haat, across Aurobindo Marg.
Last-mile connectivity
The UTTIPEC also cleared proposals for traffic management, including improving last-mile connectivity at six Metro stations — Shastri Nagar, Jahangirpuri, Karol Bagh, New Delhi Railway Station, Dwarka Mor and Nehru Place. According to government officials, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had identified space near these stations for buses, auto-rickshaws and cars to wait, instead of parking on the road in front of the station. In some cases, the DMRC has identified land behind the station, where these vehicles can park and wait.
After clearing the proposals, Mr. Baijal told officials that the projects given should be implemented in a time-bound manner and without cost overruns.
PWD secretary Ashwani Kumar said after the meeting that the department will target finishing the projects in 2019. Now that the proposals have been cleared, the PWD will prepare the design and cost estimates. Projects that cost over ₹200 crore will then have to be cleared by the Cabinet.
