Delhi's National Highways Set for Major Signal-Free Upgrades to Combat Congestion
The Centre has announced a significant initiative to transform three key national highway stretches passing through Delhi into largely signal-free corridors. This move, aimed at reducing severe traffic congestion and slashing travel times, was detailed by the road transport ministry in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Three Critical NH Stretches Targeted for Signal-Free Transformation
The ambitious project focuses on the NH stretches from Ashram to Badarpur, Mehrauli to Gurgaon, and Punjabi Bagh to Tikri Border. According to the ministry, these routes will be made mostly signal-free through the construction of flyovers. Additionally, a major interchange will be built at the Kalindi Kunj intersections to ensure seamless traffic flow across this complex junction.
Responding to queries in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State in the Road Transport Ministry and East Delhi MP, Harsh Malhotra, provided comprehensive updates. He confirmed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is currently preparing detailed project reports for all three NH stretches, laying the groundwork for swift implementation.
Substantial Travel Time Reductions Expected Across All Corridors
Ashram to Badarpur Stretch: This corridor will see the construction of three flyovers to eliminate most signals. Currently, congestion causes travel times to balloon to between one and one-and-a-half hours. Post-upgrade, this duration is projected to drop dramatically, though specific new times were not quantified beyond the assurance of significant improvement.
Mehrauli to Gurgaon Stretch: Once made signal-free, travel time on this route is expected to plummet to a mere 15 minutes, a stark contrast to the current one-hour ordeal faced by commuters.
Punjabi Bagh to Tikri Border Stretch: Flyovers at major junctions will render this NH stretch largely signal-free. The upgrade promises to cut travel time to approximately 30 minutes, down from the current one-and-a-half hours, offering substantial relief to daily travelers.
Kalindi Kunj Interchange and Broader Infrastructure Updates
Minister Malhotra highlighted the Kalindi Kunj intersection, where six roads converge, as a critical bottleneck. To address this, an interchange similar to the one at Dhaula Kuan will be constructed, aiming to make the intersection completely signal-free and enhance traffic efficiency.
In related updates, Malhotra expressed optimism about the DND-Faridabad stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway becoming operational within the next six months. This development is expected to further streamline regional connectivity.
Furthermore, the minister announced that the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor will be fully operational in the next 8-10 days. This corridor is set to revolutionize travel to the hill capital, reducing the journey time from Delhi to less than two-and-a-half hours, a significant improvement for both tourism and commerce.
These infrastructure enhancements underscore the government's commitment to modernizing Delhi's transport network, addressing chronic congestion, and boosting economic productivity through improved mobility.
