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Following the objections, the PWD has hired a private consultant for a traffic simulation to figure out another exit for the signal-free, elevated corridor.
“The Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre or UTTIPEC has forwarded us the terms of reference, which will be given to our consultant to carry out a survey of the area and conduct several studies to come out with the best possible alternative,” a PWD official said.
The consultant is supposed to submit its report in a month and work on Phase-II of the project will begin next year.
Sources said the loop merging into Aurobindo Marg could lead to traffic snarls on the road, which already sees a high volume of traffic. “The congestion might start during construction itself. We are looking at having an exit either before Aurobindo Marg or moving it towards AIIMS,” a source said.
According to the current Phase-II plan, the elevated road is supposed to be extended till INA Market. Part of it will be elevated and then merge into Aurobindo Marg.
It will be possible to enter and exit the elevated road from the INA Market through the Aurobindo Marg carriageway from Sarojini Nagar towards AIIMS.
An elevated loop will provide commuters access to the opposite carriageway on Aurobindo Marg when they are exiting. This loop will cater to cars moving towards Safdarjung Airport and Sarojini Nagar.
There will be several links on the elevated stretch. One of the loops will provide access to the elevated road from Thyagaraj Stadium for those travelling towards Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Sarai Kale Khan.
Two new loops will descend towards Lala Lajpat Rai Marg. While one will provide access to Lodhi Road over Silver Oak Park for those coming from Sarai Kale Khan side and going towards CGO Complex, the other will cater to those going towards Sanchar Bhawan.
“The current design was made before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This needs certain changes. The second phase will cost Rs 530 crore and the Cabinet has approved this 6.5 km stretch. Once work begins, it will be completed in 2 years,” a PWD official said.
Traffic police officers said the exit on Aurobindo Marg would clog the road due to vehicles coming from East Delhi. “Aurobindo Marg does not have the capacity to carry more vehicles. The proposed exit will slow down traffic between Safdarjung Airport and AIIMS,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyendra Garg said.
“Ever since the Ambedkar Nagar-Moolchand bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor was launched in 2008, a large volume of traffic shifted to Aurobindo Marg. People use this road as an alternative to the BRT. The road is not in a position to take additional traffic load. It cannot take traffic from the Ring Road,” the official said.
