Delhi government approves first phase of elevated Ring Road corridor with two new Yamuna bridges

The Delhi government has approved the first phase of an elevated Ring Road corridor project, which includes the construction of two new bridges over the Yamuna river. The project, estimated to cost Rs 12,000 crore, aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on one of the city's key arterial routes.

The corridor will run from Metcalfe House in Civil Lines to the DND flyover near Ashram, covering a distance of approximately 25 kilometres in its first phase. According to officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), the project will be executed in two phases across six sections. The first phase comprises three priority sections: Azadpur Chowk to Metcalfe House junction (7 km), Majnu Ka Tila to Salimgarh Fort (5 km), and Salimgarh Fort to DND flyway.

PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh confirmed that the feasibility report and detailed project report (DPR) have been prepared and are under review. The DPR will be submitted to the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) for further approval.

The two new bridges over the Yamuna will be located between Metcalfe Junction and Salimgarh Fort. The first bridge will replace the Old Iron Bridge (Lohe ka Pul), aiming to ease congestion on the ITO bridge and Yudhister Setu (Kashmere Gate Flyover). This bridge will connect North East, East, and South East Delhi directly to the DND Flyway. The second bridge, near Chandgiram Akhara at Metcalfe House, will provide connectivity to North East Delhi, ITO, and Mayur Vihar, and also offer an interchange to the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, facilitating seamless high-speed travel between North Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad.

The Ring Road, also known as Mahatma Gandhi Marg, currently handles around 5 lakh vehicles daily, with an average peak-hour speed of 23.79 km/h. The project aims to increase this speed to 45 km/h by eliminating traffic signals. Additionally, the corridor is expected to reduce vehicular pollution and road accidents. The route currently records over 150 fatal accidents annually and emits approximately 2.1 lakh tonnes of carbon per year.

Minister Singh noted that construction for Phase I is expected to begin soon, as it faces fewer challenges such as land acquisition compared to later phases. He added that the Delhi government will seek financial support from the central government for the project, given its large budget.

In subsequent phases, the PWD plans to work on the section from DND-Ashram flyover to Moti Bagh Metro Station, covering 10.5 km with key areas like Moolchand, Lajpat Nagar, and Andrews Ganj. The full corridor, including ramps, loops, and connecting roads, is expected to span around 80 km, with 15 interchange junctions and 23 approach roads.