New Delhi: Both carriageways of the Ashram flyover were finally shut late on Sunday evening to enable the construction of a connecting road and to link the existing flyover with its new extension.
The flyover was, however, open for the better part of the day, delaying the inevitable cascading effect by a few hours. This was because the primary work of installation of a traffic signal at Taimoor Nagar T-point had yet to be completed. The flyover was earlier scheduled to be shut from Sunday morning.
The road levelling work as well as repairing of the footpaths will be taken up gradually and completed by PWD.
When TOI visited the spot on Sunday afternoon, the traffic signal at Taimur Nagar T-point was being installed. Traffic police and other officials on ground said they had to even out the roads and reconstruct the footpath. What had come up were signboards informing commuters about the location of the bus stop before the Taimoor Nagar traffic light, which was installed later in the evening. Officials could be seen informing commuters about the new location of the bus stand to avoid unnecessary hassle.
But the real test begins on Monday. The diversions, as announced earlier, will be in place. Two days ago, Delhi Traffic Police had conducted a trial closure of the flyover and found the result “chaotic”.
Even on Sunday afternoon, a non-working day for most of the population, the traffic at Ashram intersection was heavy. A traffic police official said, “The traffic light will ensure that people coming in from CV Raman Marg can take the right turn and not interfere with the movement of the commuters heading from Ashram to Noida or Sarai Kale Khan. The traffic light will be monitored manually as per the flow of traffic.”
With the shutting of the Ashram flyover, the load of the vehicles will fall on Barapullah flyover, Kalindi Kunj, ITO, Pragati Maidan tunnel, Mayur Vihar, Akshardham, NH-9, Mathura Road and some other areas. Vehicles coming from central and south Delhi have the option of using ITO or Bhairon Marg to go to east Delhi, bypassing Ashram and the Barapullah corridor. Those driving from Badarpur and Tughlaqabad may use the Kalindi Kunj road.
Officials admit that there definitely would be an impact on traffic on all these alternative routes as well. “Commuters should plan their journeys in advance and regularly check social media for notifications about traffic conditions on the stretch,” an officer added.
The flyover was, however, open for the better part of the day, delaying the inevitable cascading effect by a few hours. This was because the primary work of installation of a traffic signal at Taimoor Nagar T-point had yet to be completed. The flyover was earlier scheduled to be shut from Sunday morning.
The road levelling work as well as repairing of the footpaths will be taken up gradually and completed by PWD.
When TOI visited the spot on Sunday afternoon, the traffic signal at Taimur Nagar T-point was being installed. Traffic police and other officials on ground said they had to even out the roads and reconstruct the footpath. What had come up were signboards informing commuters about the location of the bus stop before the Taimoor Nagar traffic light, which was installed later in the evening. Officials could be seen informing commuters about the new location of the bus stand to avoid unnecessary hassle.
But the real test begins on Monday. The diversions, as announced earlier, will be in place. Two days ago, Delhi Traffic Police had conducted a trial closure of the flyover and found the result “chaotic”.
Even on Sunday afternoon, a non-working day for most of the population, the traffic at Ashram intersection was heavy. A traffic police official said, “The traffic light will ensure that people coming in from CV Raman Marg can take the right turn and not interfere with the movement of the commuters heading from Ashram to Noida or Sarai Kale Khan. The traffic light will be monitored manually as per the flow of traffic.”
With the shutting of the Ashram flyover, the load of the vehicles will fall on Barapullah flyover, Kalindi Kunj, ITO, Pragati Maidan tunnel, Mayur Vihar, Akshardham, NH-9, Mathura Road and some other areas. Vehicles coming from central and south Delhi have the option of using ITO or Bhairon Marg to go to east Delhi, bypassing Ashram and the Barapullah corridor. Those driving from Badarpur and Tughlaqabad may use the Kalindi Kunj road.
Officials admit that there definitely would be an impact on traffic on all these alternative routes as well. “Commuters should plan their journeys in advance and regularly check social media for notifications about traffic conditions on the stretch,” an officer added.
