Barapullah Phase-3: Second Lane Opens, Traffic Jams Persist (Pankaj Rai)
New Delhi: The opening of the Barapullah Phase-3 corridor, which directly connects East Delhi with South Delhi, was expected to provide commuters with relief from traffic congestion. After a wait of nearly nine years, the corridor was opened on September 29, raising hopes of a smoother journey from Mayur Vihar to AIIMS. However, traffic jams dashed those expectations within the first two days, and the congestion has continued unabated.
The journey, which was expected to be reduced from around 40 minutes to just 15 minutes, has instead become a prolonged ordeal for commuters. Long queues of vehicles, particularly on the carriageway from Mayur Vihar towards AIIMS, have added to the challenges faced by traffic authorities.
The situation prompted officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Traffic Police to conduct a drone survey to identify the causes of congestion and explore possible solutions. The initial assessment revealed that traffic from five different routes was merging with the Barapullah corridor through two loops near Sarai Kale Khan. The heavy concentration of vehicles at a single point is slowing traffic. Authorities are now considering changes to the design of the merging point, installation of traffic signals and diversion of vehicles towards NH-24 wherever feasible.
The second carriageway of Barapullah Phase-3 was also opened on Thursday, allowing vehicles travelling from Ashram and AIIMS towards Mayur Vihar to use the route. Traffic congestion in this direction remained relatively less severe, but the situation on the Mayur Vihar-to-AIIMS stretch continued to be critical for the second consecutive day. Vehicles were seen crawling along the approximately 3.5-kilometre-long corridor.
Commuters had expected the new corridor to significantly reduce travel time between East and South Delhi. However, the heavy flow of vehicles arriving from different routes near Sarai Kale Khan has emerged as a major challenge. As a result, the opening of the new corridor has not provided complete relief from traffic jams.
The main cause of congestion has been identified as the merging point near the Sundial structure, close to Sarai Kale Khan. Here, vehicles arriving from Mayur Vihar merge with traffic travelling towards AIIMS through a loop from Sarai Kale Khan. Vehicles from the DND loop, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the Ashram Extension Flyover and Maharani Bagh also use this route.
The convergence of traffic from multiple directions at a single point makes it difficult to maintain a smooth flow. When vehicles from several routes enter the corridor simultaneously, traffic slows down, causing congestion to build up behind them and resulting in long queues.
This explains why commuters travelling from Mayur Vihar towards AIIMS continue to face difficulties despite the opening of Barapullah Phase-3. The challenge for the Traffic Police and PWD is not merely to clear the congestion but also to regulate traffic from different directions so that no single route becomes overwhelmed.
To control congestion, barricades have been placed near the traffic signal on the carriageway coming from Mayur Vihar. When vehicle pressure increases, the barricades are used to regulate entry into the lane. They are removed when traffic returns to normal, but long queues begin to form again shortly afterwards.
Although this temporary arrangement helps regulate traffic to some extent, the absence of a permanent solution means the problem keeps recurring. The barricades also cause inconvenience to motorists navigating the route. Maintaining a balance between vehicle volume and the smooth movement of traffic has therefore become a continuing challenge for the Traffic Police.
In view of the persistent congestion and rising traffic volume, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sanjay Tyagi, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Sandeep Gupta conducted a drone survey of the corridor and the merging point near the Sundial structure at Sarai Kale Khan.
The survey aimed to understand how traffic merging from different directions was contributing to congestion and identify changes that could improve the situation.
Following the survey, the officials put forward four key recommendations to the PWD and other concerned agencies.
1. Redesign the merging point: The road geometry near the Sundial structure should be modified to provide smoother curves where traffic from different routes converges. This could make it easier for vehicles to move from one route to another and reduce sudden slowdowns.
2. Install traffic signals and improve traffic control: Appropriate traffic management measures should be introduced at the merging point. Traffic signals, wherever necessary, could help regulate the movement of vehicles arriving from different directions.
3. Update real-time traffic information on Google: Traffic and navigation information for the recently opened Barapullah Phase-3 flyover should be updated on Google in real time. This would enable commuters to check traffic conditions before starting their journeys and choose suitable routes accordingly.
4. Divert traffic towards NH-24: Wherever feasible, vehicles should be diverted towards NH-24 or their movement should be regulated to ease the growing pressure on the Barapullah corridor and its merging point.
The concerned agencies will now have to examine the recommendations made following the drone survey. Changes to the merging point and the installation of traffic signals will require technical assessments, taking into account the existing road infrastructure. The feasibility of diverting traffic towards NH-24 will also depend on vehicle volumes on alternative routes and the ability to regulate traffic there.
The opening of Barapullah Phase-3 has provided East Delhi residents with a new route to South Delhi. However, its full benefits will be realised only when traffic flows smoothly on the roads connecting to the corridor. The congestion on the Mayur Vihar-to-AIIMS carriageway highlights that opening a new flyover alone is not enough. The connecting roads, loops and merging points must also be managed efficiently.
It remains to be seen how quickly the four proposed measures are implemented and when commuters will receive meaningful relief from traffic jams. For now, the Barapullah Phase-3 corridor, which opened after a nine-year wait, has presented a new traffic management challenge instead of delivering the promised faster journey from Mayur Vihar towards AIIMS.
Copyright © 2026 Top Indian News
