Iffco Chowk underpass opens after 1.5-year delay

Traffic movement was smoother on MG Road as there were a fewer number of vehicles coming from the Huda City Centre road taking a U-turn to turn towards Sikanderpur.

After a delay of over one-and-a-half years, the Iffco Chowk underpass was finally opened to traffic on Sunday morning by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), much to the relief of commuters.

After a delay of over one-and-a-half years, the Iffco Chowk underpass was finally opened to traffic on Sunday morning by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), much to the relief of commuters. (Handout)

Traffic movement was smoother on MG Road as there were a fewer number of vehicles coming from the Huda City Centre road taking a U-turn to turn towards Sikanderpur. Officials said that movement will become easier once two high-power transmission towers on the service road along the underpass are also shifted.

The completion of the L-shaped underpass at Iffco Chowk had been delayed by over 1.5 years due to issues relating to the shift of a petrol pump, which fell in its alignment. On Sunday morning, NHAI officials and employees of the contractor were present at the site, as the underpass was opened to traffic without much fanfare.

Workers at the site are still adding finishing touches to the underpass Lines dividing the lanes were being still marked on Sunday afternoon.

The 725-metre structure from the Huda City Centre road towards Sikanderpur allows vehicles to avoid taking a U-turn at MG Road as they can simply take the underpass and emerge on the same road, where ample space has been provided for merging traffic.

The only work left in this project is shifting the two 220 kVA power transmission towers by the power department. Officials of the NHAI expect that this would be done soon.

The underground power transmission line has already been laid by the power department and has also been energised, said Singhal.

“We are expecting that two towers that fall on the service road will also be shifted soon, thereby making the underpass even more convenient for commuters,” said Singhal.