Mukundpur flyover opened, expected to ease traffic on NH1

Traffic flow on National Highway 1, which connects Delhi with Chandigarh, is set to ease with the opening of a six-lane flyover at Mukundpur Chowk on Outer Ring

Traffic flow on National Highway 1, which connects Delhi with Chandigarh, is set to ease with the opening of a six-lane flyover at Mukundpur Chowk on Outer Ring Road. The flyover was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and PWD minister Satyendra Jain on Friday.

Mukundpur flyover is a part of the signal free road project between Vikaspuri and Wazirabad. The Madhuban Chowk to Mukharba Chowk stretch of the project was opened in January. (Sushil Kumar /HT FILE)

Around 1.75 lakh vehicles use the stretch every day and at least four minutes will be shaved off their travel time with the inauguration of the flyover.

“Not just time, but man hours and fuel will be saved too. This will amount to saving approximately ₹56 crore every year.Smooth and uninterrupted movement of traffic on this intersection will also cut down emission of at least 4,975 tonnes of carbon dioxide per day, ” said an official of the Public Works Department of Delhi government.

According to the government, it managed to complete the flyover in ₹50 crore though the sanctioned cost was ₹62 crore. PWD took three years to construct the 900-metre flyover.

The flyover also has a two-metre wide cycle track, 2.5m-wide footpath and a green belt on both sides. Separate bus ways have also been marked near the bus stops.

The Mukundpur flyover is a part of the signal-free road project between Vikaspuri and Wazirabad. The project is being made in four parts — Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh, Mangolpuri to Madhuban Chowk, Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk and Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad. Of these only Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad stretch is still under construction and the Mukundpur flyover is the first of the three flyovers planned on the stretch.

Once the project is complete, the time required to cover 22.5-kilometres from Vikaspuri to Wazirabad will come down to 25-minutes from 1.5 hours.

The Delhi government is also planning to construct more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors to facilitate and encourage use of public transport. Delhi’s first BRT from Moolchand to Ambedkar Nagar was dismantled after public outcry over the traffic snarls it triggered.

Senior transport department officials said they have identified six corridors where BRT may be implemented. Government sources said a detailed study will be done to ensure that BRT is implemented on stretches where there is a high number of bus users and where adequate road width is available.