Delhi airport commute will be longer before it gets faster, RTR flyover to be one-way again

The Rao Tula Ram flyover is going to turn one-way again from September. The Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed the change as it is constructing a flyover parallel to the one on RTR and needs to restrict traffic for that purpose.

For the residents of South Delhi, the ride to the airport is set to get messier before it gets smoother. The Rao Tula Ram flyover is going to turn one-way again from September and will cater only to traffic coming from the airport.

The Rao Tula Ram flyover is going to turn one-way again from September. (Sonu Mehta/HT Photo)

The Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed the change as it is constructing a flyover parallel to the one on RTR and needs to restrict traffic for that purpose.

The RTR flyover has been the weakest link on a road which is the gateway to the city, as traffic bound to and from the Indira Gandhi International Airport uses this stretch.

When this experiment also failed, the authorities allowed traffic from both directions.

However, the congestion remains.

“To decongest the existing flyover, the decision to construct a parallel flyover was taken in 2014. But due to residents moving court and other hindrances, the construction keep getting delayed. Now, most of the pillars of the new flyover have been erected and we have to launch girder now. For this the traffic between Nelson Mandela T-point and existing RTR flyover need to be blocked. We have had a meeting with the traffic police and after addressing their concerns, the traffic changes will be implemented,” said a PWD official.

Sources said the new traffic plan could start from end of August or first week of September and will continue for six months. There will be traffic marshals to assist commuters. People coming from Nehru Place or Munirka side and going towards the airport will have to take Nelson Mandela Marg and Vasant Kunj Road.

Residents of areas such as Vasant Vihar, West End and Anand Niketan that are next to the flyover will be, however, allowed to use the road below the flyover.

“We are working out a plan where locals who are living in the restricted area are allowed to go. We are in touch with the Residents Welfare Associations also so that minimum inconvenience is ensured,” the official added.

For people coming from Shantipath and RTR road who usually take a right turn for the airport, there will only be a minor change. After the traffic light, they will be asked to go till the Army base from the wrong side of the road.

“Since traffic coming from the airport will take the RTR flyover, we will let the commuters coming from Shantipath use the road below the RTR flyover to go to the airport. A traffic light will be installed near the Army base and commuters can take the NH-8 to go to the airport,” the official said.