Commuters travelling between East Delhi and South Delhi may soon get major relief as the long-delayed Barapullah Phase-3 elevated corridor is expected to open this month. The Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) has written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta seeking a date for the inauguration of the 3.5-km-long flyover, which is now almost complete.
Once opened, the corridor will provide a signal-free route from Mayur Vihar to AIIMS, reducing travel time to around 15-20 minutes. At present, the same journey can take 30-40 minutes or even longer during rush hour.
The new elevated corridor will improve connectivity between East and South Delhi. It will also benefit commuters travelling from Ghaziabad, Noida and other parts of East Delhi by providing a smoother route through Mayur Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan and Barapullah without having to stop at multiple traffic signals.
The project was approved in 2014, and construction began the following year. It was originally scheduled to be completed by 2017 but was delayed by nearly nine years due to several challenges.
According to officials, the project was held up by land acquisition issues, contractor disputes, delays in construction, environmental clearances for work near the Yamuna floodplain and the construction of a cable-stayed bridge. The 2023 Yamuna floods also affected the pace of work.
The cost of the project has increased significantly over the years. While it was initially estimated at Rs 964 crore, the revised cost is now around Rs 1,330 crore. In the final stages, work was also impacted by disruptions in the supply of materials such as bitumen and industrial gas because of the West Asia conflict, as well as a shortage of workers during the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The inauguration is expected to be attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta along with several Union ministers. Officials are yet to announce the final date. The flyover may also be inaugurated alongside the recently completed Mukarba Chowk underpass.