To ease traffic congestion at one of the busiest stretches in South Delhi’s Mathura Road, the Delhi Government has proposed to convert it into a signal-free high speed corridor.

Including an underpass at Ashram Chowk, the Public Works Department (PWD) has envisaged elevated roads or twin flyovers between Ashram Chowk and Aali Gaon near Badarpur. The idea is to make eight-kilometre long drive hassle-free on the stretch starting from Rajdoot Hotel (Jangpura) to Badarpur border. Once the project is completed, the travel time will reduce considerably on Mathura Road. Presently it takes half an hour to cover the distance. However, during peak hours, it becomes an hour-long tiresome journey. The feasibility report on this project is being prepared by the PWD, which is likely to be submitted for formal approval to Delhi lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung by end of this month.

A senior official of the PWD said while giving in-principal approval to the Ashram Chowk underpass project in last meeting of Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) in July, the lG had asked the department to come up with tangible proposal to smoothen traffic movement along the stretch.

“His prime concern was consecutive traffic signals falling on short distances at Friends Colony, Surya Hotel, Apollo Hospital, CRRI and Sarita Vihar. He was of the opinion that after crossing Ashram Chowk (through proposed underpass) without any hindrance, the vehicular movement will come to a halt at these red lights and the whole purpose of constructing underpass would be defeated,” he said, adding that after the concern raised by the lG, possibilities of constructing elevated roads or flyovers are being looked upon.

“First flyover will be constructed between Ashram Chowk and Modi Mill flyover to avoid three signals at Friends Colony and Surya Hotel crossing. The other flyover will bypass next signals at Apollo Hospital, CRRI and Sarita Vihar. In this way, the entire stretch beginning from Rajdoot Hotel will be converted into signal-free high speed corridor. Feasibility report of the project is almost complete and we will submit to the lG by the end of this month for sanction,” he added.