Delhi opens Urban Extension Road II to decongest NCR traffic
Delhi’s traffic-choked roads are set for major relief with the inauguration of the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), a vital stretch of the city’s long-planned Third Ring Road. The project, part of the National Highway 344M, promises faster connectivity across the National Capital Region (NCR) while also offering quicker access to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Designed with sustainability at its core, UER-II is being hailed as a future-ready corridor that blends infrastructure growth with ecological responsibility.
The strategic significance of UER-II lies in its ability to integrate Delhi with regional and interstate traffic. Linking three national highways NH-44, NH-09 and the Dwarka Expressway the corridor creates a seamless route for vehicles entering the capital from Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. For frequent flyers, the road is especially transformative, reducing travel time to the airport by bypassing Delhi’s traditionally clogged arteries.
The 75-kilometre project has been divided into multiple packages, each unlocking critical connections. Among them, a six-lane access-controlled stretch between NH-44 and Karala-Kanjhawala Road and another connecting Najafgarh-Nangloi Road stand out for easing bottlenecks in north-west Delhi. Further north, the Sonipat bypass integration strengthens links with industrial hubs such as Bawana, while the Bahadurgarh spur provides direct routes to the western corridor and the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway. Together, these connections are expected to streamline both passenger traffic and freight movement across NCR.What sets UER-II apart is its eco-conscious execution. Officials confirmed that over one million tonnes of inert waste from Delhi’s overburdened landfills at Bhalswa and Ghazipur were repurposed in the project’s construction, marking a rare attempt at circular urban development. Additionally, instead of indiscriminate tree cutting, nearly 10,000 trees were transplanted, signalling a step towards balancing development with environmental preservation. These measures position UER-II not merely as a road project, but as a template for building greener infrastructure in Indian megacities.
Experts highlight that the corridor is expected to decongest pressure points such as Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, and the overburdened Outer and Inner Ring Roads, which for decades have defined Delhi’s traffic gridlock. For logistics players, the direct highway links to Delhi’s industrial areas promise to reduce turnaround times and improve operational efficiency. Real estate analysts also predict that new connectivity will spur demand in Delhi’s peripheral zones, particularly in areas around Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, where affordable housing projects could benefit from improved access.While questions remain on how effectively UER-II can absorb the relentless growth in traffic over time, its immediate impact on reducing congestion and improving connectivity is undeniable. If maintained efficiently and integrated with public transport, this road could become more than just a concrete stretch it could serve as Delhi’s blueprint for a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive urban future.
