Delhi PWD mulls 500-metre underpass to ease Delhi-UP Road congestion

Traffic congestion on the Delhi-UP Road, a critical arterial route connecting the national capital to Uttar Pradesh, could see significant relief with the Delhi Public Works Department's examination of a proposed underpass project. The 500-metre underground passage would be constructed near the Crown Plaza traffic signal at Mayur Vihar Phase 1, a major congestion point on the corridor.

The proposal comes as a response to mounting pressure from commuters and local administrators grappling with severe traffic gridlocks in the area. The Mayur Vihar Phase 1 intersection has long been identified as a traffic chokepoint, with vehicles converging from multiple directions creating bottlenecks during peak hours.

The PWD's exploration of the underpass option suggests efforts to implement grade separation solutions rather than rely on horizontal expansion. Such infrastructure improvements are intended to segregate traffic flows and improve vehicular movement across busy intersections without disrupting surface-level commercial and residential activities.

While the PWD has not yet announced a timeline for the proposal's evaluation or approval, traffic management experts have long advocated for grade-separated structures as a viable solution for addressing congestion on Delhi's most-trafficked routes. The success of similar underpass projects in the capital has bolstered confidence in this infrastructure approach.