Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 15: In a major push to decongest Delhi’s choking Inner Ring Road, the city government has announced plans for an ambitious elevated corridor over the 55-kilometre stretch, aiming to provide high-speed, toll-based access and ease chronic traffic bottlenecks.

The project, still in its early stages, will follow a public-private model with a revenue structure based on toll collection. The Public Works Department (PWD) has been tasked with appointing a consultant and preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR), according to officials.

Estimated to cost between Rs 5,500 cr to Rs 6,000 cr, the elevated corridor is expected to offer signal-free mobility above the existing road, modeled on a dual-layer system to segregate local and through traffic.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma confirmed the initiative, stating, “We've directed officials to expedite consultant appointment. The DPR will focus on technical feasibility and traffic management during construction.”

Originally designed as a bypass for a much smaller Delhi, the Inner Ring Road now struggles to cope with the capital’s explosive growth. Today, the Delhi-NCR region houses over 30 million people, with more than 1.4 cr vehicles registered in the capital alone.

Currently riddled with traffic signals, illegal parking, and chaotic service lanes, the Inner Ring Road accounts for 12 of Delhi’s 134 worst congestion spots, including Ashram, Dhaula Kuan, Moolchand, and ITO, as per the 2024 Delhi Traffic Police Survey.

The elevated corridor, including interchanges, ramps, and loops, may stretch up to 80 kilometres in total, integrating key connectors and reducing conflict points across the network.

While the project is seen as a key step toward modernising Delhi’s overburdened infrastructure, public opinion remains divided—some hopeful for smoother commutes, others skeptical about its long-term impact.