Delhi Authorities have initiated a major infrastructure revamp targeting 12 critical traffic choke points across the city.
Coordinated jointly by the Delhi Traffic Police, Public Works Department (PWD), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), this initiative seeks to deliver more efficient, accessible, and safer roads across various urban corridors, starting with the highly congested stretch from Safdarjung Hospital to Dhaula Kuan on the Ring Road. The congestion relief plan marks a strategic expansion following earlier interventions on National Highway 48, where successful traffic management models have offered templates for replication. The 12 choke points, now prioritised for intervention, represent some of the city’s worst affected transit corridors. Their overhaul is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters while contributing to more sustainable and liveable urban mobility outcomes.
As part of the implementation framework, each of Delhi’s six police ranges will oversee two priority stretches within their jurisdiction. The responsibility is shared between PWD and NHAI, with the latter managing three corridors and the rest handled by the PWD. Among the most congested areas identified is the Ring Road segment stretching from Safdarjung Hospital to Dhaula Kuan. This arterial stretch often experiences near-stagnant vehicle movement, particularly during peak hours. A recent joint inspection by PWD engineers and traffic police officials highlighted several structural and design inefficiencies exacerbating the bottleneck.
One of the most critical problems lies near the AIIMS loop, where a lack of lane discipline and insufficient carriageway width constrains vehicle flow. Officials revealed that nearly 5 to 6 feet of unused space exists on the left side of the carriageway. A proposal has been tabled to widen the road using this space, which could significantly ease vehicular pressure during peak times. Pedestrian safety is another key concern. Outside Safdarjung Hospital, the absence of guardrails and footpath barriers exposes pedestrians to risky jaywalking and vehicle intrusions. To address this, the PWD is considering installing cement or iron railings to guide pedestrian movement and reduce accident risks. This aligns with the city’s broader vision of prioritising non-motorised road users and creating inclusive, safer public spaces.
Poor signage has also come under scrutiny, with multiple locations such as the Barapullah and INA flyovers reportedly lacking adequate directional indicators. Officials have recommended new overhead and ground-level signage to help navigate key traffic junctions and improve compliance, particularly for buses and long-distance travellers unfamiliar with the corridor. Further compounding traffic disruptions is the presence of a CNG filling station near Sector 12, where long queues of waiting vehicles spill into the main carriageway, choking the already constricted corridor. A proposal has been mooted to redirect these queues to an adjacent service road, with appropriate signage to guide vehicle movement without obstructing through-traffic.
Structural constraints on various flyovers, including those near Raj Nagar, Hyatt, and Moti Bagh, have been flagged for upgrades. Here, road narrowing on flyover ascents causes abrupt slowdowns. Officials suggest interventions such as repainting zebra crossings and lane dividers, along with evaluating possible widening measures to improve throughput. Persistent maintenance issues are also impeding traffic efficiency. The Durgabai Deshmukh metro station vicinity, for instance, frequently experiences waterlogging during rains and has suffered from uncoordinated utility works. Recent digging by the Delhi Jal Board has left the road surface uneven, posing risks to both vehicles and pedestrians. Officials have stressed the need for immediate resurfacing and coordinated underground service planning to prevent recurring damage.
In other zones, such as the northern range, GTK Road near Azadpur Mandi and the Libaspur underpass on NH-44 have emerged as perennial chokepoints. In Central Delhi, the Ring Road stretch between Mangi Bridge and Majnu Ka Tila, and the Rani Jhansi Road from Panchkuian to Filmistan, have also been prioritised for upgrades. The southern range will focus on the Outer Ring Road from the IIT Flyover to Modi Mill Flyover, as well as the MG Road corridor from Andheria Mor to the Aaya Nagar border. Meanwhile, Western Delhi will target Shivaji Marg between Zakhira and Dwarka Mor, and Rohtak Road between Zakhira Flyover and Mundka Metro Station. For the New Delhi district, NH-48 between Rao Tula Ram Marg and Shiv Murti remains a top concern alongside the Safdarjung-Dhaula Kuan route.
Officials have acknowledged that while infrastructure plays a significant role in managing congestion, behavioural changes in driving habits and stricter enforcement of traffic norms are equally critical to long-term success. The initiative also underscores the importance of integrating sustainability and equitable access into urban design—ensuring that infrastructure development supports the goals of climate resilience, low-carbon mobility, and safer, more inclusive streets. Going forward, the project will be implemented in phases, with short-term fixes such as signage, repainting, and widening carried out immediately, while long-term civil engineering improvements will be completed over the next few quarters.
Although this intervention does not promise an overnight transformation of Delhi’s chronic traffic woes, it signals a welcome return to evidence-based planning, inter-agency collaboration, and a human-centric approach to urban infrastructure. If executed with consistency and accountability, this effort could help set a benchmark for other cities grappling with similar urban mobility challenges, and bring Delhi a step closer to its aspirations of becoming a green, equitable, and sustainable metropolis.
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