T-20 matches, road work to cause jams on Delhi’s Bhairon Marg

The stretches likely to be worst affected are ITO, Vikas Marg, Pragati Maidan, Tilak Marg, Mandi House, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and Bhagwan Das Road

Those commuting to central Delhi on Wednesday should plan their trip well in advance, with two T-20 cricket matches at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium and the ongoing construction work at Bhairon Marg threatening to cause considerable congestion on approach roads.

Heavy traffic plagues ring road due to a massive cave in on Bhairon Marg in New Delhi. (Ravi Choudhary/ HT photo)

The stretches likely to be worst affected are ITO, Vikas Marg, Pragati Maidan, Tilak Marg, Mandi House, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and Bhagwan Das Road.

The Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium will witness two semi-final matches on Wednesday — between Australia and England in the women’s category from 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm, and England and New Zealand in the men’s category from 7 pm to 11 pm.

Read: Bhairon Marg cave-in: Govt to make temporary way for interim relief

Traffic officials said that though the matches will see scant attendance because India is not playing, there will still be considerable traffic congestion on the roads around Delhi Gate and ITO. “Need-based diversions will be made after the matches get over. Asaf Ali Marg, JNL Road, Daryaganj and Guru Nanak Chowk are also expected to witness jams around this time,” said Sharad Agarwal, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

Repair work being undertaken on Bhairon Marg, which suffered a major road cave-in last Monday. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

Road repair work at Bhairon Marg, a portion of which caved in last Monday, has also added to commuter woes. Diversions have been put in place around Mathura Road, Ring Road and Geeta Colony.

Read: Three-week-long traffic nightmare awaits Delhi after road cave-in

Traffic police officials said that the 20-foot-deep crater will take at least three weeks to repair. Meanwhile, the roads around the place groan under bumper-to-bumper traffic as vehicles are diverted from Ring Road to Mathura Road, ITO and Vikas Marg. “The jams will continue at least for a few weeks,” special commissioner of police (traffic) Muktesh Chander said.

Bhairon Marg connects both east and south Delhi with the central part of the city. Around 30,000-40,000 vehicles cross the caved-in stretch during peak hours.