New Delhi: The U-turn beneath Savitri flyover has been dug up and shut as part of the expansion of Savitri flyover, leaving residents wondering why authorities would start work on a traffic link when the area is preparing for Durga Puja , one of its busiest festive periods of the year.
I think people who cross this area or live around should be prepared for a living hell for next 10 years… till the time the flyover will get completed,” one posted online. Because the wider road network is already under pressure, the timing is particularly concerning.
Traffic cops said they were trying to get the work halted until after Durga Puja. The closure could push more vehicles towards Chirag Dilli, where Metro construction is already affecting traffic movement. With that option gone, more traffic could converge on the already congested Chirag Dilli stretch, while motorists seeking alternatives may spill into the inner lanes of Greater Kailash-I, Kalkaji Mandir and Nehru Place. The sudden shutdown has also left residents scrambling for answers. Many took to social media to question why work had begun without prior information. I think expecting that much is normal. Traffic police personnel also rushed to the spot and stayed through the day to monitor the situation. A JCB had been left unattended at the site, without an operator. The expansion of Modi Mill flyover is underway, while Metro construction around Chirag Dilli has been impacting traffic movement. The U-turn’s closure adds another restriction to an already strained network, leaving commuters with fewer options to navigate the area.
Earlier this month, residents had made requested CM and LG to wait until Durga Puja is over before starting construction of the second Savitri flyover. Before the U-turn was shut, motorists could use it to travel via Pamposh Enclave towards Moolchand or take the Nehru Place route to avoid Greater Kailash-I. “If the U-turn under the Savitri flyover in GK2 had to be closed, wouldn’t it have been common sense to put a board or a sign before the flyover starts? It was not unclear whether they had been consulted before the U-turn was closed or had prior information.
Instead, on Thursday morning, they woke up to find digging taking place, leading to questions over the timing and alternative traffic arrangements.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
Any traffic diverted from one stretch will have to be absorbed by another, and the alternatives are already under strain,” said Bhattacharjee. “There is absence of clear coordination between PWD and traffic management. The impact of closing the U-turn cannot be viewed in isolation. There was no immediate response from PWD. Download the TOI App.
CR Park’s pandals attract at least 60,000 visitors a day during Durga Puja, with traffic particularly heavy on weekends and Ashtami.
If this remains closed during Durga Puja, the congestion could stretch till Dhaula Kuan,” said P K Paul, a resident. Residents said they were not opposing the flyover expansion but wanted the work postponed until after the festivities, when traffic volumes would ease. The festive rush is expected to compound the problem. With another key turning point now shut, residents fear congestion could spread further this year. “We wrote the letter to LG and CM but no one listened. For regular commuters, the timing is the biggest worry. Puja rush is huge. Ashok Bhattacharjee, secretary, EBDP Association, the apex body of RWAs of CR Park, questioned the decision to close the U-turn when several infrastructure projects were already affecting the same road network.
Last year, tailbacks stretched as far as RK Puram. On Thursday morning, people were using inner lanes and searching for alternative routes.