The Old Rao Tula Ram flyover in Delhi reopened to light vehicles on Monday evening after repairs to road cracks were completed, restoring a major airport-to-city connection while a comprehensive structural audit remains underway.
Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma announced the reopening after inspecting the flyover site with department officials. The carriageway towards the Indira Gandhi International Airport from Vasant Vihar had been closed since October 20, following the detection of cracks at two locations on the road.
Verma said the necessary repair work had been completed and that the flyover would be reopened for light vehicles. He added that the structural audit was being conducted to assess the strength and long-term safety of the flyover, which was constructed in 2009.
The closure had forced vehicles to use the adjoining service road while repair work was carried out. That diversion led to traffic congestion and long queues behind the flyover, particularly affecting traffic moving between Vasant Vihar, the airport corridor and other parts of the city.
The reopening restores movement on the flyover for light vehicles, but the available announcement does not specify whether heavy vehicles will be permitted or whether any restrictions will remain in place during the structural audit. It also does not provide details of the repair method, the extent of the cracks or the audit’s completion timeline.
The Old Rao Tula Ram flyover is an important link for traffic travelling towards the airport from the Vasant Vihar side. Its closure demonstrated the effect that a problem on a single elevated road segment can have on adjoining surface routes, with diverted vehicles placing additional pressure on the service road.
The Delhi Traffic Police had detected the cracks at two locations before the carriageway was shut. The PWD then carried out the repair work, according to the minister’s statement. The department’s ongoing structural audit is expected to provide the next official assessment of the flyover’s condition and longer-term safety requirements.
For commuters, the immediate change is the return of light-vehicle access on the airport-bound carriageway. The next operational milestone is the completion of the comprehensive structural audit and any further decision by the PWD on vehicle access or additional work.
