New Delhi: The long-awaited underpasses at Mukarba Chowk in north Delhi are going to open within the next few days, with the construction nearly complete and the finishing work underway. The project, aimed at addressing one of the city’s most persistent traffic bottlenecks, is likely to improve connectivity along the Outer Ring Road corridor.The project comprises three underpasses constructed near gate no. 3 of Haiderpur Badli Mor metro station. Two of them are designed for vehicular movement, while the third is dedicated to pedestrians and non-motorised transport.Public Works Department (PWD) minister Parvesh Verma said, “There is repeatedly a massive traffic jam at Mukarba Chowk. To fix this, our department has constructed three tunnels… 98% of the work has been completed. As soon as chief minister gives the date, it will be inaugurated… Wherever there are traffic jam problems, our work is ongoing.” PWD officials said the project was set to open this month.The completion of the Mukarba Chowk (Mubarka Pass) project seeks to provide significant relief to commuters travelling between Badli village, sectors 18 and 19 in Rohini, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar and Shalimar Bagh. It will remove the need for a 1.5km detour via the congested Mukarba Chowk flyover and ease movement towards Azadpur Mandi and Adarsh Nagar.Each vehicular underpass has been built with a length of approximately 50 metres. The two underpasses for vehicular movement have a width of 9.6 metres and a height of 6 metres. Officials said this would enable smooth passage of a wide range of vehicles. The use of advanced jack pushing technology, along with precast RCC box structures, has helped accelerate construction while minimising disruption on the busy arterial stretch during execution, said an official.Underpasses 1 and 2 will provide connectivity between Badli and Rohini on one side and Azadpur and Jahangirpuri on the other. Commuters travelling between these areas are currently forced to navigate the heavily congested Mukarba Chowk interchange or use the flyover, both of which experience significant traffic pressure, especially during peak hours.Officials estimate that nearly 15,800 vehicles will use the new corridor, easing traffic flow. The project is expected to reduce travel time by up to 10 minutes per trip and cut down distance by nearly one kilometre. This is likely to translate into annual fuel savings of around 58,000 litres, as per PWD estimates.“By reducing idling time and traffic congestion, the project could lower carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 135 tonnes each year, an effect comparable to the absorption capacity of around 810 trees annually,” an official said.The third underpass has been specifically designed to improve pedestrian safety in the area. It will allow Delhi Metro passengers to cross Outer Ring Road towards Shalimar Bagh and Azadpur Mandi.Officials said the need for the underpasses was long felt in the surrounding areas, including Badli village, Rohini sectors 18 and 19, and nearby residential pockets. Commuters from these localities heading towards Shalimar Bagh, Adarsh Nagar or Azadpur Mandi have traditionally faced prolonged delays due to congestion near Haiderpur Badli Mor metro station, which also contributed to traffic spillback onto Outer Ring Road.PWD officials said desilting work on supplementary drains was also being carried out alongside the project to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon.
