Delhi’s Barapullah Faces Big Traffic Test: New Flyover, 3-Km Jam And 55-Minute Waits On Day 2 | New-delhi-news News
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Delhi’s new flyover was meant to cut travel time, but Barapullah Phase-III delivered a 3-km traffic jam instead. Some commuters spent up to 55 minutes on the new corridor
The long delay in completing Barapullah Phase-III has made the first days of its operation particularly significant for commuters who have been waiting for the promised connectivity improvements.
NEW DELHI: Delhi’s newly opened Barapullah Phase-III elevated corridor, billed as a faster link between east and south Delhi, ran into heavy traffic on Wednesday, a day after its inauguration, with motorists reporting tailbacks of nearly 3 km and delays of up to 55 minutes.
The congestion was reported on the Mayur Vihar Phase-1 to Sarai Kale Khan stretch, prompting the Delhi Traffic Police to intensify deployment at key merging and exit points and step up traffic regulation.
Several commuters said traffic from Mayur Vihar Phase-1 towards Sarai Kale Khan was moving at a crawl. One commuter told The Times of India that he was stuck for about 40 minutes while travelling towards central Delhi in the afternoon, while another said it took 55 minutes to reach the first intersection point of the flyover.
3-Km Tailback Leaves Commuters Stuck
The traffic build-up came just a day after the corridor was opened with the stated aim of cutting travel time between Mayur Vihar Phase-1 and AIIMS.
Several motorists said the promised reduction in travel time was not visible on the first day of regular operation. The corridor had been projected to bring the journey from east Delhi towards AIIMS down to around 15 minutes, compared with roughly 35-45 minutes previously, depending on the route and traffic conditions.
The first day of heavy commuter use instead brought long queues and delays, with reports of congestion continuing from the morning peak into the afternoon.
Traffic Police Step Up Deployment
Responding to complaints on X, the Delhi Traffic Police said the congestion on the newly opened corridor, including the tailback from the Mayur Vihar side, had been “noted on priority”.
Traffic officers were directed to intensify regulation and strengthen deployment at critical merging and exit points, while efforts were made to clear the build-up and improve traffic movement.
The police said the traffic pattern on the new corridor was being assessed and corrective measures would be taken to improve the flow. The congestion was concentrated around points where traffic from the new corridor merges with the existing road network, highlighting the challenge of managing a sudden shift of vehicles onto a newly opened route.
Experts Had Warned Of Sarai Kale Khan Choke Point
The traffic disruption came against the backdrop of earlier concerns over congestion near Sarai Kale Khan. Experts had cautioned that while the new corridor could provide an alternative to the Delhi-Noida Direct, or DND, Flyway and reduce pressure on some existing routes, the movement of large volumes of traffic towards the Sarai Kale Khan end could create a new bottleneck.
The corridor links Mayur Vihar Phase-1 on Noida Link Road with Sarai Kale Khan on Ring Road. It merges with the existing Barapullah network, creating a longer signal-free route towards south Delhi and the AIIMS area. The combined elevated corridor extends for about 10.9 km.
The project was also expected to ease traffic pressure on routes including the DND Flyway, NH-24 and the Ring Road by providing an additional east-to-south Delhi connection.
AIIMS-To-Mayur Vihar Carriageway To Open
PWD officials said traffic movement from Mayur Vihar towards AIIMS had been opened for commuters. The carriageway from AIIMS towards Mayur Vihar is scheduled to open on Thursday afternoon, which officials expect will further facilitate movement on the corridor.
The opening of the remaining carriageway is significant because Wednesday’s traffic disruption occurred while the corridor was not yet operating in both directions at full capacity.
Rs 1,635-Crore Project Was Delayed For Years
The Barapullah Phase-III project was approved in 2014, with construction beginning in 2015. It was originally scheduled for completion in 2017 but faced repeated delays, pushing up the project’s cost to Rs 1,635 crore.
The corridor was inaugurated on September 29 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with other road infrastructure projects in Delhi. The total value of the projects inaugurated or launched on the occasion was reported at Rs 1,941 crore.
The long delay in completing Barapullah Phase-III has made the first days of its operation particularly significant for commuters who have been waiting for the promised connectivity improvements.
Pillar Tilted During 2021 Yamuna Flooding
The project also faced a major setback in 2021, when a supporting bridge pillar tilted during strong Yamuna flows in the monsoon.
Construction was subsequently halted during the monsoon period in subsequent years, contributing to further delays in completing the corridor.
The project ultimately emerged after years of construction and multiple missed deadlines, with its revised cost significantly higher than the original estimate. Reports put the original project cost at about Rs 1,261 crore, compared with the revised Rs 1,635 crore.
Nine Loops, Extradosed Yamuna Bridge Define Barapullah Phase-III
One of the distinctive engineering features of the corridor is an extradosed bridge over the Yamuna. Unlike conventional cable-stayed bridges, an extradosed bridge uses relatively shorter stay towers, giving the structure a different profile.
The corridor also has nine loops designed to facilitate movement in different directions and provide multiple entry and exit options.
Separate pedestrian and cycling facilities have also been provided along the corridor, aimed at improving connectivity for non-motorised road users.
New Corridor Faces First Big Traffic Test
Barapullah Phase-III was designed to provide a signal-free connection from Mayur Vihar Phase-1 through Sarai Kale Khan towards south Delhi and AIIMS. Its opening was expected to redistribute traffic and provide an alternative to existing congested routes.
But the first full day of commuter use brought a very different picture, with a 3-km tailback and motorists reporting waits of up to 55 minutes.
Traffic officials are now assessing the movement pattern at the corridor’s merging and exit points, while the opening of the remaining carriageway is expected to provide another test of how traffic will distribute across the new route.
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Delhi, India, India
October 01, 2026, 09:22 IST
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