The Bharthal-Shahabad road near Bijwasan in southwest Delhi is set to be restored and reopened after remaining closed for 16 years, following an agreement between the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Railways, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi. The half-kilometre road connects Bharthal and Shahabad Mohammadpur villages and had forced residents to take a detour of around 7-8 kilometres.
The road was closed after land for the Bijwasan Railway Terminal was acquired and handed over to the Railways by the DDA. Around 16 years ago, a boundary wall was built on the acquired land, cutting off the direct connection between the two villages. The closure affected residents travelling towards the Shahabad underpass and increased the time and fuel required for routine journeys.
According to the report, residents of Shahabad Mohammadpur were able to use an alternative route alongside the airport boundary wall, but people in Bharthal did not receive a comparable direct connection. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department had attempted to create a route in the area, but the effort remained unresolved because permission from the Railways was not available.
The prolonged closure became more difficult for local residents after the development of Yashobhoomi in the Dwarka area, as journeys that could previously have been covered through the short link required a longer circuit. Residents were also reported to have used unpaved routes because the direct road was unavailable.
The matter was taken up by the Delhi Dehat Kisan Sangharsh Committee, whose representatives met the DDA vice-chairperson to seek a solution. The report said a high-level meeting was subsequently held following the intervention of area MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi also directed the DDA to coordinate with the Railways to resolve the issue.
Following discussions between DDA and Railway officials, the Railways agreed to restore the route. Under the proposed plan, the old alignment that was blocked by the boundary wall will be repaired and rebuilt for public movement. The report does not specify the construction schedule, the design of the rebuilt section, or the date on which the road will be opened.
Krishna Godara, general secretary of the Delhi Dehat Kisan Sangharsh Committee, said residents had been pursuing the issue for several years and described the agreement as the result of sustained efforts by villagers. Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Shahabad Mohammadpur, said elderly people, schoolchildren and office-goers had faced the greatest difficulty because even short journeys required a detour through Yashobhoomi.
The next step is the rebuilding of the road by the Railways in coordination with the DDA, after which the route is expected to be opened for residents of both villages.
