Delhi L-G Baijal clears key infrastructure projects to decongest Delhi

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has given his nod for a host of infrastructure projects that would help smoothening the traffic situation on major arterial stretches of the city, besides improving pedestrian facilities and the multi-modal integration at six Delhi metro stations.

Some of the key projects cleared by the governing body of UTTIPEC, headed by the L-G, includes extension of the Ashram flyover till the DND flyover, construction of an underground tunnel below the ITPO (Pragati Maidan area), along with underground U-turns on Mathura Road, construction of grade separators on outer ring road — that includes connecting the existing Modi Mill flyover with Kalkaji flyover, double laning of Savitri Cinema flyover and a two way flyover on the Malviya Nagar junction.

Officials said the plan to extend Ashram flyover till the DND flyover will make traffic flow on Ring Road smoother. Similarly, the construction of an underground tunnel below the ITPO (Pragati Maidan area), along with underground U-turns on Mathura Road would facilitate connectivity of Mathura Road to Ring Road.

“The Asharm project is likely to be completed by 2020. Once ready it will help people avoid a 2-km detour to get to Mathura Road or to go towards Lajpat Nagar. The Pragati Maidan project will facilitate connectivity of Mathura Road to Ring Road. The area gets clogged whenever major events are held at the trade fair ground. The plan, once completed, will come as a major respite to visitors,” a senior public works department official said.

The proposal for road revamp was submitted by a consultant hired by the PWD for improving traffic movement on the Mathura Road, from Ashram Chowk to Hotel Rajdoot, and on the Ring Road, from Ashram flyover to DND flyover.

During the meeting of the UTTIPEC governing body, officials said, L-G Anil Baijal stressed on the need of making Delhi roads more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists.

Project involving multi-modal integration of the six existing metro stations — Shastri Nagar, Jahangirpuri, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, Dwarka Mor and Nehru Place — to provide the last mile connectivity for pedestrians was also cleared in the meeting.

“Under multi-model integration, authorities have to plan separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, corridors for non-motorised vehicles and space for bus stops near the metro stations,” an official said.

Other infrastructure projects which got the green signal on Thursday includes doubling of the existing lanes of Sarai Kale Khan flyover on Ring Road, modified proposal for construction of ‘U’-turn on GD Marg, Sarita Vihar, one way traffic circulation around Phirni road along with non motorized vehicles (NMV) lanes to decongest Najafgarh area.

The corridor development plan of GT road from Old Yamuna Bridge to Apsara Border including the doubling of existing Seelampur flyover was also cleared. The proposal also includes a two-way flyover on Shastri Park junction along with two cloverleaves to decongest the Shastri Park junction.