Known for heavy traffic congestion and high rate of accidents, the 5.30 kilometre (km) stretch from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to Ashram will be finally re-developed, as the proposal of Public Works Department (PWD) for street scaping of this stretch falls on Ring Road has been cleared of encroachments.
“The basic idea behind this project is to make the people feel happy with green ambience and ‘zero’ traffic hurdles while travelling/driving on the roads across the national Capital. The total estimated cost of this road/street development projects is Rs 50.25 crores”, an official said.
Under the re-development of this 5.30 km long section, the most congested section where a commuter always finds heavy traffic such as AIIMS junction, South Extension junction Moolchand underpass, Lajpat Nagar flyover till Ashram Chowk ,will get a new look with beatification, widening and strengthening of roads and repairing of pavements, footpaths, construction subways, foot-over bridges, street lightings, street furniture, parking, proper signages, decongestion of intersections, improving of road geometry and safety, smooth and accessible paths to persons with disabilities will take place.
The financial approval for this project was cleared recently in the seventh meeting of Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) held in February.
The refurbishment of AIIMS to Ashram is one of the identified and selected stretches from the 10 most congested roads of Delhi. Moreover, as per the sources, the redevelopment of this stretch was first approved in the 2016-17 but did not bore fruit due to various official and financial reasons.
“These are the junctions (roads) where there is a heavy traffic clogs witnessed daily as this section is one of busy corridor with two major hospital AIIMS and Safdurjung and shopping, coaching centers. Hence, the PWD has decided to beautify and streetscape the roads give an aesthetic look and to provide maximum basic facilities to the road users as per the norms of Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) (UTTIPE),” said an official.
Budget for the project has been sanctioned and the tender will be floated soon. The expected completion of this project is by 2020, said the official The official further said these are the roads where safe pedestrian crossings, footpaths, refuges and missing road markings, signage and signals and very poor road geometries need to be addressed.
“During the study of this stretch, the department found that there is no facility for NMV vehicles and pedestrians, termination of service lanes at junctions, parking are very close to intersections which hinder the movements. Moreover, due to the poor condition of the street, kerbs and street furniture’s the barrier free movement becomes impossible,” said the official.
Under the street scaping and beatification of roads, the PWD will redesign and provide good infrastructure such as bus stops, separate stands for Auto-rickshaw and cycle and E-rickshaw will be created.
The official further added that public toilets, drinking water points, police booths, separate parking for police and emergency vehicles, kisosks for street vending zones, mohalla clinics, public canteens,maps and signages, plantation, seating arrangements will be developed.
As per the Delhi Traffic Police, large number of accidents also occurs due to poor conditions of these roads and lack of facilities for the pedestrians. As per the traffic officials, Ring Road is one among the accident prone roads. In the year 2017, total 68 accidents took place on the Ring Road, out of which 10 were fatal and 10 persons were killed. Further, from AIIMS to Ashram Chowk, total 46 accidents took place, out of which 13 were fatal accidents.
