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Plan to decongest Chirag Dilli BRT: Diversions, New Roads, Underpasses

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">In a bid to decongest the Chirag Dilli junction along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand, the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd (DIMTS) has come up with a proposal to reduce signal time, after having received major resistance to BRT as a concept.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">In an attempt to improve the corridor, DIMTS has proposed circulation changes, which will divert traffic away from the Chirag Dilli junction and will reduce three signal phases.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">This circulation proposes to do away with right turns from Savitri Cinema, Moochand and IIT. This plan has been shown to Transport Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. The AAP government had said that it would review the project before taking a decision on whether it will keep the BRT or remove it. </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The short-term improvement plan for decongestion of Chirag Dilli intersection is to use existing infrastructure, and improve traffic management and circulation. While the long-term plan aims to construct grade separators, new roads and underpasses in the area.</span></span></span> <span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The short-term plan includes constructing two slip roads in the area to facilitate smooth flow of traffic. One will be made behind Masjid Moth, where an existing road is present but has been blocked, while the second slip road will be made near Soami Nagar, where land near existing drain is present, claimed DIMTS. &ldquo;At Masjid Moth an 18 m four-laned road is available on which only surfacing needs to be done,&rdquo; a DIMTS spokesperson said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">A U-turn will also be created near the Savitri flyover before the turn towards Savitri Cinema besides creating another signal opposite to Chirag Dilli village for dispersal of traffic before the Chirag Dilli intersection towards Nehru Place. &ldquo;We have also proposed restricting traffic movement under the flyover, from Panchsheel towards Nehru Place and Press Enclave,&rdquo; the spokesperson added.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&ldquo;From IIT to Press Enclave, a person can take Savitri flyover and take U-turn (which will be created) under the flyover and go onto the new slip road, which will be created made Masjid Moth leading towards Press Enclave. From Moolchand to IIT, there will be an option to turn towards slip road built behind Masjid Moth and take Chirag Dilli flyover to get to IIT and, for those travelling from Nehru Place to Moochand, one can get onto the Chirag Dilli flyover and use slip road created near Soami Nagar, which brings you to the other side of the Chirag Dilli flyover,&rdquo; the spokesperson said. The signal phases at other intersections will also be improved.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Chirag Dilli is one of the major junctions along the BRT, which has seen rapid increase in car volumes over the years. In fact, private vehicle increased more than 10 percent per annum, as per 2012 data of DIMTS.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&ldquo;The Chirag Dilli junction has experienced rapid increase in traffic due to development within its catchment area with shopping malls, district courts, hospitals open up over the years. Also, rapid urbanisation in Saket area and Gurgaon has increase private vehicles. But the transport infrastructure has not improved. Some of the approved road links were never implemented. More exit connections are needed along this stretch,&rdquo; the spokesperson said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The long term plan includes creating an underpass near Chirag Dilli village, which will lead upto Nehru Place, creating a parallel road along the BRT or creating a grate separator which will connect with the existing Chirag Delhi flyover.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Source-On Request</span></span></span></p>