Ashram spot check: Flyover far from prepared for closure

As January looms, experts say agencies should delay closing the flyover until all the measures are in place to manage the additional burden

- Alok KN Mishra and Sanjeev K Jha

NEW DELHI: Roads remained cratered, footpaths non-existent, and diversion signs missing around the Ashram flyover on Friday, reflecting a worrying lack of preparation before authorities shut the overpass from Sunday, a decision that experts said must be reconsidered given the state of affairs.

The broken roads and the missing pavements mean the bottleneck that will be created when the flyover is closed will be far worse as vehicles and pedestrians jostle for the same narrow and crumbling stretches, especially during peak hours.

An official from the Public Works Department (PWD), which is building an extension of the Ashram flyover as part of a long-awaited project to decongest one of the city's most jammed roads, said on Friday it will shut the existing overpass on January 1, which will force traffic to take the side roads that are capable of handling only a fraction of the vehicular volume typical for the area.

Signs that significant disruption was in store was visible during a "dry run" on Friday, when traffic police shut the flyover for two hours. "Since a lot of traffic congestion was noticed during the dry run, the PWD officials have been categorically asked to install adequate number of signage before closing the stretch.

They have also been asked to put them prominently, ahead of all diversions, to alert the vehicle drivers about any possible traffic chaos," said SS Yadav, the special commissioner of police (traffic).

The Delhi Traffic Police had asked PWD to relay the tarmac between Ashram and Sarai Kale Khan and fix the footpath, along with putting up adequate signages, so that the diversions can be smoother.