Hitting a dead end: Rao Tula Ram flyover still remains a commuter's nightmare

One of the biggest traffic nightmares in the Capital, the Rao Tula Ram (RTR) Marg flyover in south Delhi, remains a mess. The ill-designed single-carriageway flyover has been a pain for commuters since it was conceived in 2009.

The delayed construction of the new three-lane flyover, coming up parallel to RTR, has added to commuters' woes.

The RTR flyover has been a talking point, as it is a key link connecting south Delhi to IGI Airport. The flyover was supposed to be the shortest link between Ring Road and the Outer Ring Road. However, the single-lane flyover has not been able to shoulder the traffic that uses the stretch during peak hours, resulting in massive traffic snarls.

In order to find a solution to the traffic problem, the state government had, in 2014, approved the construction of a three-lane flyover running parallel to the RTR flyover. The new flyover, which starts from Munirka, will end at NH-8.

Even as the Public Works department (PWD) claims that it can meet the June 2018 deadline to complete the flyover, things on the ground tell a different story.

The new flyover was meant to provide commuters an easy passage to the airport, while the single-lane flyover would serve commuters travelling from the airport. But more than 50 per cent of the work on the new elevated loop is still pending.

According to PWD officials, the work had been delayed because of several clearances pending from various departments.

"We had been waiting for the forest department's permission to fell around 300 trees to start work on the project. It is only of late that permission has been granted. Felling of trees was required both for creating diversions on the road as well as for removing obstruc tions to traffic. It had delayed the entire process significantly," said a senior PWD official.

Motorists are forced to struggle through the peak hour rush. In fact, a number of residents have also missed their flights because of the hour-long traffic jams.

"The vehicle speed drops by at least 60 per cent, as the flyover's narrow carriageway cannot take the pressure exerted by the traffic volume.

In case a vehicle breaks down here, it stalls other vehicles till as far as Dhaula Kuan," said RK Mittal, a Vasant Vihar resident.

The Vasant Vihar RWA even approached the court to reconstruct the flyover.

The RTR is the only right turning facility between Dhaula Kuan and Africa Avenue towards Ring Road. Also, Benito Juarez and Kama Kothi Marg do not have a right turning facility to Ring Road. Thus, the traffic bound for RR from Southwest Delhi and Gurgaon loads this road.

What’s the problem?

Rao Tula Ram flyover
Why was it built? The RTR flyover was conceived ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It was one of the three flyovers, including IIT and Munirka, meant to decongest the outer ring road.

Single-carriageway flyover
Length: 900 metres
Location: Connects south Delhi to IGI airport
Problem: Cannot handle the heavy traffic loads resulting in long traffic jams

Parallel flyover
Why is it being built? The approval for this flyover was obtained in 2014 to decongest the stretch leading to IGI Airport and give relief to commuters travelling on the RTR flyover. It is a three-lane flyover
Length: 2.7 kilometres
Location: The flyover will start from Munirka and finish at NH-8
Deadline: June 2018; however, 50 per cent of the new flyover is still pending, raising doubts as to whether the deadline can be met.

RTR’s weak spots

The large cemented blocks at the start of the flyover are a major concern as commuters ram into them either while taking to the flyover or while trying to reverse to escape traffic.
In case of an emergency, a fire engine or ambulance will not be able to make their way out of the jam. Also in cases of vehicle breakdown, airlifting them is the only solution.