The newly inaugurated Barapullah Phase-III corridor faced heavy traffic congestion just one day after opening to commuters. Motorists reported delays of up to an hour, while the traffic queue stretched for nearly three to four kilometres. Delhi Traffic Police said the main problem occurred because traffic from seven lanes had to merge into just three lanes at the exit near Sarai Kale Khan. Many commuters used the new corridor expecting a faster journey. Instead, several motorists found themselves stuck in long queues and facing delays.

Commuters Report Long Delays

Commuters said they chose the newly opened route because they expected it to cut their travel time. “Got stuck for over 40 minutes going from Mayur Vihar to IIC across the river on the road that was just inaugurated. The jam extends over 3-4 kilometres. Another commuter, said authorities had temporarily closed the stretch from Mayur Vihar towards Ashram during peak hours. One of the motorist also reported a delay of around 30 minutes.

Seven Lanes Merge Into Three

A senior Delhi Traffic Police officer said the new corridor attracted a large number of vehicles from NH-24 and the DND Flyway. Many drivers from these routes chose the new corridor because they expected to reach AIIMS from Mayur Vihar in about 15 minutes. The increased traffic affected the new corridor but also reduced the usual congestion on NH-24 and the DND Flyway, according to the officer. “Essentially, traffic from seven lanes converged into three lanes at the Barapullah exit on the Sarai Kale Khan side. It is likely to take about a week for the new traffic pattern to settle,” the officer said. The sudden change in traffic movement created a bottleneck at the merging point. Officials expect motorists to gradually adjust to the new route and traffic pattern.

Traffic Police Increase Deployment

Delhi Traffic Police have increased their presence at important merging points and exits. Additional personnel are being deployed to manage traffic flow and clear vehicles from congested stretches. The traffic police also responded to complaints on X. Officials said they had taken note of the congestion and instructed teams to identify bottlenecks, increase deployment and regulate vehicle movement.

Project Faced Years of Delays

The Barapullah Phase-III project received approval in 2014 and construction began in 2015. Authorities originally planned to complete the project by 2017. However, several issues delayed the work. These included land acquisition, government clearances, construction-related problems and the Covid-19 pandemic. The project also saw a significant increase in its estimated cost. Authorities initially estimated the project at ₹1,260.63 crore. The revised cost reached around ₹1,635 crore. The approximately 5-kilometre corridor connects Mayur Vihar Phase-I with Sarai Kale Khan. It also provides onward connectivity towards AIIMS and other parts of south Delhi. Despite the traffic problems on its first full day, officials expect the traffic situation to improve as commuters become familiar with the new corridor and authorities address the bottlenecks.