Barapullah Phase 3 Traffic: Delhi Plans U-Turn, Extra Lane To Ease Jams; Know What Changes

Delhi authorities have drawn up a set of immediate measures to ease traffic congestion on the newly opened Barapullah Phase III corridor, including a new U-turn near Gurudwara Bala Sahib and an additional lane on a stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and ITO.

Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma said the measures were discussed with the Delhi Traffic Police and consultants, with work on the proposed changes already underway.

U-turn, Extra Lane Planned

A U-turn will be constructed near Gurudwara Bala Sahib for vehicles travelling from Sarai Kale Khan towards Barapullah Phase I. The move is aimed at improving traffic movement and reducing unnecessary merging on the corridor.

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"The Traffic Police has asked us to make a U-turn and we have started working on it," Verma said.

The government is also considering using parts of the footpath along the Ring Road between Sarai Kale Khan and ITO to create an additional traffic lane. Verma said the move would help maintain four lanes at stretches where the road currently narrows from four lanes to three.

PWD has appointed a consultant to study traffic movement and recommend further changes to the road design.

Google Maps To Get Updated Traffic Data

Verma said the government has also spoken to Google over traffic information being displayed for Barapullah Phase III.

"Google told us that their software takes around 15 days to study the traffic pattern on a new road," he said.

According to the minister, real-time traffic information for the newly opened corridor is expected to become more accurate over the next 10 to 15 days. Authorities hope this will prevent more motorists from being directed towards the congested route.

Long-Term Solution

For a permanent solution to the traffic pressure, the government is also working on an elevated Ring Road project. Verma said its detailed project report (DPR) has been completed.

The proposed project includes two additional bridges over the Yamuna and is expected to improve traffic movement between the areas on either side of the river.

Barapullah Phase III was opened on September 29 after years of delays. The corridor was intended to provide signal-free connectivity between Mayur Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan and improve connectivity towards South Delhi.

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What Is The Barapullah Design Flaw?

A serious design flaw has surfaced at Sundial Park Junction as three lanes of the newly inaugurated corridor merge with two other three-lane stretches from the Sundial side towards Sarai Kale Khan and from the Ashram-DND side to funnel into the old three-lane Barapullah Flyover (Phase I and II).

One of the lanes of the Phase II flyover meets the old flyover at almost 90 degrees, further mounting the traffic woes.