Delhi flyovers age rapidly: Cracks, potholes raise safety concerns across city

NEW DELHI: On a weekday afternoon, traffic moves across the busy Nehru Place flyover as it has for more than two decades. But a closer look shows signs of ageing — cracks can be seen on parts of the road surface and expansion joints make a rattling sound as vehicles drive over the busy markets. With 102 flyovers criss-crossing Delhi and at least 17 flagged for repair after inspections last year, TOI travelled across the city with a traffic and road expert and former professor at School of Planning and Architecture, PK Sarkar, to see how these concrete giants are ageing. The drive revealed a network that still keeps traffic moving but is beginning to show the strain of time, heavy vehicles and patchy upkeep.The city's love affair with flyovers began as traffic surged in the late 1980s and 1990s. As junctions overflowed, planners turned to elevated roads to keep vehicles moving above the chaos below. The biggest push came in the early 2000s under Sheila Dikshit govt, when the run-up to Commonwealth Games triggered a wave of infrastructure building. According to Public Works Department data, more than 47 flyovers and bridges were constructed, including flyovers at Punjabi Bagh, Raja Garden, Africa Avenue, Savitri and Nehru Place in 2001, Andrews Ganj in 2002, AIIMS in 2003, Britannia Chowk in 2004, Punjabi Bagh Club, Moti Nagar, Wazirpur and Madhuban Chowk in 2005, and Mukarba Chowk in 2008.Following the 2025 survey, Delhi govt identified 17 flyovers for repairs. Earlier, approvals were granted for repair works at Shahdara, Loni Road, Nangloi, Chirag Dilli, Okhla, Janak Setu and Pul Mithai. The much-delayed repair of the Sarita Vihar flyover, built in 2001, began last July, while safety audits were recently ordered for Seelampur and Zakhira flyovers.With another 10-12 flyovers being planned, the condition of the existing network offers an important reminder: building elevated roads may ease congestion quickly, but maintaining them requires constant attention.While the ageing Maharaja Ranjit Singh flyover on Barakhamba Road has long drawn attention for its deteriorating condition, the Nehru Place flyover is turning out to be another trouble spot.The Nehru place flyover, designed to ease congestion around the commercial district and the Chirag Dilli-Kalkaji junction, improves connectivity between Greater Kailash, CR Park, Kalkaji and other parts of south Delhi. But sections of asphalt now appear pockmarked and concrete panels are missing in places.Sarkar said such wear was typical when ageing flyovers carry thousands of vehicles daily. "Expansion joints are usually the first to take the hit," he said. "Constant vehicle movement loosens metal plates and rubber seals. Over time, you start seeing rutting on the surface — depressions formed by repeated tyre pressure."Construction issues can surface years later. "Sometimes errors in the bituminous mix lead to premature cracking or potholes. Water seepage can weaken layers beneath the pavement, while bearings and deck slabs slowly undergo structural stress. That is why regular inspection and resurfacing are critical," Sarkar explained.The signs were visible across several flyovers during the drive. At the Modi Mill flyover, the asphalt showed blistering, small bubble-like swellings where trapped air or moisture pushes up the surface layer. At Zakhira, the approach stretches were dotted with potholes. Similar wear was visible at Sarai Rohilla. At some stretches, side railings or noise barriers were missing.The visit also threw up everyday safety gaps. On most stretches, lane markings were barely visible. When they disappear, vehicles, especialy on high speed or during rain, tend to drift across lanes, increasing the risk of sideswipes or sudden braking.Signboards were patchy or missing in some locations, leaving motorists unfamiliar with the route unsure about exits or lane changes until the last moment.Another common issue was the absence or sudden disappearance of auxiliary lanes that help vehicles safely merge on or exit from a flyover. Without them, cars entering the main carriageway must merge directly into fast-moving traffic, creating sudden bottlenecks.Individually, these may appear minor. But on flyovers, where vehicles move faster and space to correct mistakes is limited, such details can significantly affect safety and traffic flow.For Sarkar, the fix is less about dramatic interventions and more about discipline. "Within the first three months, basic elements should be checked — railings, noise barriers, lane markings, central verge and pavement condition. After about a year, engineers should look for early signs of stress, such as cracks or rutting on the surface. And every five years, there should be a deeper structural review and strengthening wherever needed." Sarkar added that vehicle-load assessments every six months were equally important, since heavy and uneven traffic loads were often what trigger rutting and cracks.PWD did not respond to queries on the list of flyovers identified for repairs, timelines for the work, or inspection findings and repair plans.