NHAI asks Delhi govt to take over RTR-DK stretch

Monday, April 04, 2011

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has requested the Delhi government to take over the stretch between RTR Crossing and Dhaula Kuan. For the past four years, the NHAI had been looking at various options, including building flyovers, to bypass the three traffic signals over the stretch. However, it has now abandoned the endeavour.

This means that commuters using this stretch will have to live with the daily snarls for some more years. A senior NHAI official said that they had written to the Delhi chief secretary a fortnight ago about the handover of the road. He added that the NHAI had appointed a consultant and was planning to clear the mess since the traffic jam was spilling over to the main expressway during peak hours.

Because of the poor distribution and disbursement of traffic at all the three intersections between RTR flyover and Dhaula Kuan, the vehicles pile up back on to the main flyover. During evening peak hours, crossing this small stretch takes at least 20 minutes. "The comfort of using the expressway ends as soon as you get off the main highway," said Bhawani Tripathi, a daily commuter.

NHAI officials said considering this ordeal of commuters they had engaged the consultant. "However, the unified body set up for approving all road and transport projects in Delhi, UTTIPEC, did not clear the plan. So, we carried out beautification on this stretch before the Commonwealth Games," one of them said.

He added that since the study report is with the NHAI, they would pass it on to Delhi government for reference or use. PWD, which will now take over the stretch, will hire RITES to carry out a feasibility study of the entire area that will include Dhaula Kuan, RTR and a part of Aurobindo Marg joining Outer Ring Road to manage the traffic mess.

"This is being done to find a comprehensive solution. The traffic flow on stretch has serious implications on the other points. The holistic study will help us for long-term plans," said PWD engineer-in-chief Rakesh Mishra.

For the past four years, NHAI had been looking at various options, including building flyovers, to bypass the three traffic signals over the stretch. It has now abandoned the endeavour.

Original news source http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-04/delhi/29379996_1_nhai-national-highway-authority-flyovers