New Delhi: Heavy congestion at Sardar Patel Marg — a key artery that has been under growing pressure due to increasing traffic load — may soon be a thing of the past. Delhi Traffic Police, New Delhi range, has written to New Delhi Municipal Council (NMDC) proposing a 5.3km elevated road or tunnel from Talkatora Stadium to Dhaula Kuan.The move came after past proposals to widen SP Marg were not considered due to the Central Ridge surrounding the stretch. The proposed project aims to bypass the need to disturb the Ridge flora.Underlining the need for the direct link, DTP in its proposal stated that while SP Marg has only two lanes on each carriageway, traffic towards IGI airport has increased significantly in recent years, leading to a sharp rise in vehicular movement on the stretch. A copy of the proposal letter was also sent to Public Works Department (PWD) and Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure Centre (UTTIPEC). Beginning near Mother Teresa Crescent Road, SP Marg abuts Chanakyapuri, Delhi’s diplomatic heartland, as it heads towards Dhaula Kuan, a key junction linking much of the city to the airport and Gurgaon. Flanked by state bhavans, residences and key landmarks, the road carries a weight far heavier than its traffic load alone suggests.During peak hours, traffic merges from feeder roads like Malcha Marg, Panchsheel Marg, Abai Marg and Shanti Path. Cars move bumper to bumper, and each entry slows the main lane further. While a few vehicles move towards Malcha Marg and Manas Marg, more keep pouring in from Abai Marg, used by office-goers and those heading back from South Campus. Many times, SP Marg sees vehicles reduced to a crawl and snarls eating up to 20-30 minutes of commuters’ time.The construction of the new naval and army headquarters in Delhi Cantt has further raised the need for better connectivity, DTP’s proposal notes, adding that frequent VIP movement along the route also leads to restrictions and delays. According to officials, the tunnel will benefit commuters heading towards IGI airport and Gurgaon, and will not only decongest SP Marg but also Vande Mataram Marg. As per the proposal, there will be a drastic reduction in travel time from various parts of the city to Dhaula Kuan. Currently, it takes almost 40 minutes during peak hours to travel from Talkatora Stadium to Dhaula Kuan, which is expected to reduce to 10 minutes after the proposed tunnel is constructed. When contacted, there was no immediate response from NDMC on the DTP proposal.
