Lajpat Nagar flyover to ease traffic

NEW DELHI: Hectic construction activity will be witnessed on the Ring Road between the Moolchand crossing and Ashram Chowk.
While a 1.5 km long flyover will be constructed between Lajpat Nagar crossing and Sriniwaspuri, an underpass will be built at Moolchand.
The two projects are a part of the Delhi state government’s efforts to ensure that commuters complete the 48-km journey on Ring Road within 40 minutes.Once these two projects are completed, the stretch from Andrews Ganj to Noida toll bridge will become signal-free.
According to S P Banwaid, chief engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), the underpass will ensure a free flow of traffic from South Extension to Lajpat Nagar.
The underpass will allow the slow moving and light vehicle traffic to pass. ‘‘A carriageway will be reserved for heavy vehicles,’’ Banwaid said. The flyover is a dream project for Delhi Tourism and Travel Development Corporation (DTTDC). It will cover three prominent crossings on the Ring Road — Lajpat Nagar, Okhla Road and Sriniwaspuri.
According to DTTDC chief engineer Jose Kurien, the flyover will have four carriageways and will take 18 months to be completed. The Rs 60-crore project has already got technical approval from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), but is awaiting a clearance from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC). DUAC member H K Yadav said: ‘‘The plan, which was presented to us, was not well-conceived.’’ The two projects are likely to begin in July, and will take at least 18 months to finish.
DCP (traffic), Southern Range, Sanjay Singh said the department was studying the traffic circulation on Ring Road. Before the construction work begins, the department will have to make necessary diversions.
‘‘We will try to ensure that bus routes are not diverted. The roads may be widened to allow traffic to pass conveniently.’’ He said the projects would ease traffic on Ring Road.
‘‘Traffic jams will definitely be contained. And subways will facilitate pedestrians,’’ he said.