Chock-a-block at Dhaula Kuan: Blame the designers
28 Sept 2014 5:06 AM IST
The picture reflects complete harassment for commuters, who endure severe congestions, both during the morning and evening hours every day.
According to experts, the main reason behind the Dhaula Kuan congestion is the heavy traffic that moves from and towards the Delhi Cantonment Road, which starts from the point opposite to the Airport Express metro station there.
‘This intersection of the Delhi Cantonment Road with the Dhaula Kuan — Gurgaon stretch should have been a part of the interchange. But this has not happened and an immediate need to design the area near the intersection has emerged,’ said Dr Sewa Ram, expert on traffic engineering and transport infrastructure design.
An interchange is formed at a point where roads at different levels meet and movement towards many directions are free. There are two interchanges on the Ring Road — one at Dhaula Kuan and the other near AIIMS.
He further added that the vehicles approaching from the Delhi Cantonment Road and progressing towards Gurgaon, have to take a U-turn from the Dhaula Kuan interchange and, in this process, the entire interchange gets chocked. Again, the traffic that intends to move towards the Delhi Cantonment Road has to wait at the intersection for a right-turn and it blocks the traffic destined straight towards Gurgaon.
Traffic at Dhaula Kuan is at the peak from 8.30 am to 10.30 am and from 6.30 to 8.30 in the evening, said a cab-driver who frequents the route.
Buses lined up haphazardly at the short stretch between Dhaula Kuan petrol pump and the Airport Express metro station contributes to the congestion too. This problem can be resolved by a separate bus lane. ‘It is also important to note than Dhaula Kuan is linked to the Sardar Patel Marg, which suffers from a severe capacity problem. The road was not designed for the quantum of traffic it witnesses everyday. And frequent VIP movements make things worse,’ said Dr Ram.
According to experts, the main reason behind the Dhaula Kuan congestion is the heavy traffic that moves from and towards the Delhi Cantonment Road, which starts from the point opposite to the Airport Express metro station there.
‘This intersection of the Delhi Cantonment Road with the Dhaula Kuan — Gurgaon stretch should have been a part of the interchange. But this has not happened and an immediate need to design the area near the intersection has emerged,’ said Dr Sewa Ram, expert on traffic engineering and transport infrastructure design.
An interchange is formed at a point where roads at different levels meet and movement towards many directions are free. There are two interchanges on the Ring Road — one at Dhaula Kuan and the other near AIIMS.
He further added that the vehicles approaching from the Delhi Cantonment Road and progressing towards Gurgaon, have to take a U-turn from the Dhaula Kuan interchange and, in this process, the entire interchange gets chocked. Again, the traffic that intends to move towards the Delhi Cantonment Road has to wait at the intersection for a right-turn and it blocks the traffic destined straight towards Gurgaon.
Traffic at Dhaula Kuan is at the peak from 8.30 am to 10.30 am and from 6.30 to 8.30 in the evening, said a cab-driver who frequents the route.
Buses lined up haphazardly at the short stretch between Dhaula Kuan petrol pump and the Airport Express metro station contributes to the congestion too. This problem can be resolved by a separate bus lane. ‘It is also important to note than Dhaula Kuan is linked to the Sardar Patel Marg, which suffers from a severe capacity problem. The road was not designed for the quantum of traffic it witnesses everyday. And frequent VIP movements make things worse,’ said Dr Ram.
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