Ring Road between AIIMS and Ashram to be relaid, expect chaos
NEWDELHI: The Delhi government on Monday approved a project to carpet the 5-km-stretch of the Ring Road between All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Ashram with layers of asphalt.
The project, which will be taken up by the Public Works Department, with an expenditure of ₹15 crore, may also trigger jams on the arterial stretch. However, officials said the project may not take off before two months because of tenders and weather.
“Chaired Expenditure-finance committee (EFC) meeting today (Monday). Important decision included approval of ‘Project to strengthen Ring road from AIIMS to Ashram’ costing ₹15 crore,” Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia said in a tweet.
Ring Road is one of the most important arterial roads of Delhi, with heavy volume of traffic.
This stretch of the Ring Road passes through several important areas like Lajpat Nagar, Moolchand, South Extension and witness heavy traffic.
There are several potholes between AIIMS and Ashram, which slow down traffic and cause traffic jams.
“Two asphalt layers, 10 cm and 4 cm thick each will be laid on the existing road. This process is called re-surfacing of the road which is done after every 10 years. Last re-surfacing of this stretch was done in 2007. Once it is done, the road will last for another 10 years,” a PWD official told Hindustan Times.
“Tenders will now be floated and the process will take at least 15 to 20 days. The weather may cause delay as at least 20 degree Celsius temperature required for laying the road. The road may not last long if it is constructed during winters. So the work is expected to begin in February and will be completed within two months,” the officer said.
Renovation of busy Ring Road is expected to cause traffic jams on the stretch. Congestion is a regular feature in areas such as Ashram, Lajpat Nagar, Moolchand and South Extension. The condition may aggravate once the work begins.
However, the PWD and traffic officials assured taking all necessary measures so that the commuters do not face problems. “First, the construction work of one side of the road will be done and during that period the traffic will pass through the other. The work will be carried out mostly during night. The patch where Metro construction is going on in South Extension will be left out,” the PWD official said.
Chief of Delhi Traffic Police, Dependra Pathak said: “Seamless traffic movement is our priority. When the project takes off we will coordinate with the authorities concerned and announce necessary traffic diversions to ensure that commuters do not face problem.”