Barapullah Ph-III ripple effect: Siddharth Extension residents lose key route to south, central Delhi after loop closure

Delhi's newly launched Barapullah Phase III elevated corridor is struggling with traffic congestion and bottlenecks despite being opened to the public in 2026, nine years behind schedule. Vehicles from Mayur Vihar, the Sundial loop, and the DND side converge at Sarai Kale Khan before entering the narrow existing Barapullah flyover, leading to long queues and slowed traffic.

The sharp merger of three lanes into a narrower section, combined with the outdated traffic pattern planned over a decade ago, is cited as the primary reasons for the bottleneck. The project was originally designed to redistribute traffic from busy routes like DND Flyway and National Highway 24, but with increased vehicle numbers and changing commuting patterns in East Delhi and the NCR, the existing infrastructure has struggled to cope.

Phase III brings additional traffic from Mayur Vihar, while the Sundial loop and DND side add more pressure. The design forces vehicles to merge over a short distance, exacerbating the issue. Officials are considering changing the geometry to create a smoother curve and a more gradual merge, as well as introducing traffic control measures like signals at merging points.

Until a permanent solution is implemented, manual regulation is ongoing. The situation has also been worsened by a lack of updated information, with navigation systems like Google Maps needing to reflect the new road configuration and real-time traffic conditions to divert vehicles to alternate routes during peak hours.