New Delhi: The Public Works Department will construct a six-lane flyover near the Civil Lines Trauma Centre and DRDO in north Delhi. The project is aimed at improving the traffic flow on the Civil Lines-Metcalf House T-junction towards Vidhan Sabha.
The Rs 183-crore project addresses the long-standing problem of traffic congestion on the stretch and is expected to ease vehicular movement on Outer Ring Road. It will also streamline inter-state movement towards destinations in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
PWD minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said, “This flyover is a major step towards building a modern, efficient, and commuter-friendly road network in the capital. Our goal is to improve travel time, reduce stress on arterial roads and ensure better mobility across the city,” he said.
Officials said that the area was chosen for priority work given the persistent congestion there and the matter being repeatedly broached by local residents, market associations and other public stakeholders.
Explaining the current situation in the area, a PWD official said that the Metcalf House T-Junction was a chicken neck due to long waiting time at the light, merging of traffic from multiple directions and long lines of vehicles extending towards Salimgarh Fort and Signature Bridge. After thorough site evaluation, it was agreed that a new flyover was the most effective solution to resolve the problem.
The proposed flyover will span 680 metres and is designed to eliminate signalised intersections in the area. The existing roads will also be widened. PWD has been directed to ensure there is proper drainage to avert waterlogging. Pedestrians will be able to use safe walkways on either side of the flyover.
U-turns have been incorporated in the plan to facilitate local traffic and reduce the need for long detours. According to another official, once completed, the flyover will facilitate emergency movement to hospitals like the Civil Lines Trauma Centre.
This is the second flyover project initiated by PWD since BJP formed govt. The first is the flyover at Savitri Cinema parallel to the existing one-way structure. Initially suggested in 2016, the flyover plan was never implemented. PWD now intends to revive the project to provide respite from the continual gridlock on the carriageways leading to Nehru Place, Okhla and further in that direction. Construction of the project is anticipated to commence shortly since many clearances had already been obtained.
Other projects planned by PWD are underpasses to decongest two of the busiest intersections in the capital — Peeragarhi Chowk in west Delhi and Andheria Mor in south Delhi. Peeragarhi Chowk is a major intersection on Outer Ring Road and is a major choke point for traffic moving between north Delhi, west Delhi and Bahadurgarh in Haryana. Andheria Mor caters to traffic heading toward Gurgaon, Qutub Minar and the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The width of road narrows down near the Fortis hospital traffic signal and there are encroachments near Masoodpur and Mahipalpur.