manoj

Ten years after it was proposed, the plan for a six-lane flyover on the congested single-lane Rani Jhansi Road has been finally approved by the DDA technical committee this year bringing relief to commuters who travel from central and south Delhi to Delhi University.


Traffic experts say that the 1.6-km long flyover was long overdue as more than 50,000 cars pass through Rani Jhansi Road daily, making it a major artery connecting north Delhi with the heart of the city. While the volume of traffic has increased manifold since the road was planned over 50 years ago, the width of the carriageway has remained the same and is grossly inadequate to accommodate the vehicular rush.

According to the traffic police, uncontrolled commeration and mushrooming of unauthorised markets has only made matters worse. People headed for the markets and schools occupy half the road space on both sides to park their vehicles, leaving barely one lane of carriageway space for traffic to pass.

At present, the traffic police have banned the movement of commercial vehicles to decongest the road stretch. ‘‘No commercial vehicles are allowed on the road as it is already very congested. Even the movement of buses has been restricted only to city routes. The flyover will be a big relief for commuters using the North-South corridor,’’.

It also forms part of the route of at least 10 long religious processions, which choke movement of traffic at different times of the year.

The flyover — which will start from Filmistan cinema and drop near St Stephen’s Hospital — is expected to be completed by 2010. Owing to its length, cloverleaves — loops which connect flyover to other roads — have been planned at DCM Chowk and Barafkhana Chowk to allow vehicles to get on and off the flyover.

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Delhi Edition)
Date Of Publish: 14-Mar-07

__________________
Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.