At a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday, it was decided to appoint a consultant for examining alternate routes to ease congestion and eliminate persistent traffic snarls in Mehrauli area.
The consultant will help complete spadework at the earliest so the Government can go ahead with its construction plans.
Dikshit, while taking note of the difficulties being faced by the residents and tourists, stressed upon the need for providing better connectivity through elevated roads, widened surface roads or suitable underpasses. The tentative alignment was also discussed in the meeting.
Better connectivity can be availed by constructing two separate roads from Mehrauli Bus Terminus to Mehrauli-Badarpur Road near Anuvrat Marg, Ahimsa Sthal of 1.2 km and from Shahi Idgah to Arun Asaf Ali Marg via Sanjav Van of 1 km. Dikshit also stated that all agencies, including Environment & Forest department, ASI, DDA and PWD must work in tandem to overcome objections that may be raised by any of the affected agencies.
The meeting was organised at the instance of Delhi Assembly Speaker Dr Yoganand Shastri and was attended by PWD minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, chief secretary DM Spolia, principal secretary (PWD) Arun Baroka, secretary (Environment) Sanjiv Kumar, vice-chairman (DDA) Diptivilasa, senior officers of ASI and other concerned ones apart from eminent residents of Mehrauli.
Shastri stated that the present narrow road connecting Mehrauli to other parts of the city does not suffice the quantum of traffic as the historical town has witnessed substantial expansion and increase in population over time resulting in the road being overcrowded and congested.
Shastri also said that elevated roads, widened surface roads or suitable underpasses could be constructed without affecting archaeological monuments.
The basic idea is to provide relief to the residents at the earliest; hence, the Government may instruct the agencies to expedite completion of the consultant's report. Shastri also added that PWD has already conducted a preliminary survey which needs to be properly studied for an immediate action.