E-Paper
Underpasses below new Raj Nagar Extension flyover may not be opened to public
Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) will soon finalise a traffic circulation plan around the split-shaped Raj Nagar Extension flyover, which is
Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) will soon finalise a traffic circulation plan around the split-shaped Raj Nagar Extension flyover, which is now complete and awaiting a formal inauguration. The officials said it is most likely that the underpasses below the flyover will not be opened to vehicles as doing so is likely to cause some congestion.
The flyover has been constructed over the Delhi-Meerut Road to ease commuting through the congested Raj Nagar Extension (RNE). The flyover is split-shaped, with the three lanes carrying traffic from Ghaziabad to Meerut already operational. The construction of the three lanes from Meerut to Ghaziabad has been completed but they are yet to be opened.
“We have found that it won’t be feasible for us to open the underpasses below the flyover to ease traffic between Raj Nagar and RNE. If we open these underpasses, we will have to install at least four traffic signals and that will hamper the traffic movement on the ground,” VN Singh, chief engineer, GDA, said.
“The other reason for not opening the underpasses is the ongoing construction of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project over the median of the Delhi-Meerut Road. The work is causing traffic obstruction. Considering the issues involved, we have found that it is not feasible to open the section below the flyover for traffic movement between RNE and Raj Nagar,” Singh said.
The officials said the authority has already constructed two U-turns, which are barely 200 metres away on either ends of the flyover on the Delhi-Meerut Road.
“The traffic from Raj Nagar Extension can move towards Meerut and take the U-turn to move back towards the Raj Nagar. Similarly, vehicles from Raj Nagar can also take the U-turn and move towards the RNE. If we open the underpasses, we would need at least four traffic signals in a distance of about 50-60 metres and that will prove cumbersome,” Singh said.
For finalising the circulation plan, the authority said a meeting has been called of the Ghaziabad traffic police, public works department and also from NCR Transport Corporation, which is developing the RRTS project.
The work on the RRTS project, connecting Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, is underway on the Delhi-Meerut Road in Ghaziabad. The RNE flyover was designed as split shaped in order to allow construction of pillars for the RRTS over the median of the road.
The RNE flyover was built at a cost of ₹60 crore. According to GDA officials, the flyover will cater to about 75-80% of traffic on the Delhi-Meerut Road.
