Delhi to fast-track Rs 7,000-crore elevated Ring Road plan after Barapullah mess

The Delhi government plans to speed up work on its Rs 7,000-crore elevated Ring Road project after the newly-opened Barapullah Phase 3 saw persistent traffic congestion, officials said on Thursday.The 55-km project includes two new bridges over the Yamuna and is aimed at improving connectivity between Trans-Yamuna areas and the rest of the city, while easing pressure on key stretches of the Ring Road.Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Singh Verma said, "Under long-term measures, our elevated Ring Road project will add two flyovers over the Yamuna river, which will improve traffic management along the area. The detailed project report for the first package is ready and has been approved by the Chief Minister recently."Officials said that, as part of the plan to decongest the Ring Road, the government is working on a new bridge near the existing Signature Bridge. A second flyover will run from Metcalfe House to the Delhi-Noida-Direct flyway near Ashram. They said the need for additional road capacity has become more urgent after the opening of Barapullah Phase 3. The Ring Road stretch around Sarai Kale Khan, a key link between central Delhi and southeast and east Delhi, has seen rising traffic volumes.According to the plan, the initial phases to be taken up on priority are Azadpur Flyover to Hanuman Temple (ISBT) covering 9.5 km, Chandgi Ram Akhara to Majnu Ka Tilla covering 2.5 km, and Hanuman Temple (ISBT) to DND Flyover covering 11.5 km. Officials said that once completed, the elevated road will connect the Azadpur flyover near Mukarba Chowk with the DND road, which further connects to the Ashram flyover, as the government moves ahead with the project to improve traffic flow and connectivity across the city.- Ends