In an effort to decongest traffic and improve pedestrian safety in New Delhi's core, the District Road Safety Committee has approved a comprehensive redesign of the busy Rail Bhawan intersection.
The decision came during a high-level meeting chaired by the New Delhi District Magistrate on June 30.
A road safety audit, led by TRAX Road Safety NGO in partnership with NDMC and the Delhi Traffic Police, identified several hazards at the intersection.
These included poor visibility caused by unchecked vegetation, illegal parking, uneven road width, and poorly designed refuse islands that encourage risky U-turns.
The newly proposed layout seeks to address these issues by creating better-defined traffic lanes, designated pedestrian crossings, and eliminating existing design flaws that contribute to congestion. It will also regulate parking and enable smoother two-lane movement at the intersection.
Approved as a pilot project, the Rail Bhawan redesign will be overseen jointly by the CPWD, NDMC, and Delhi Traffic Police. TRAX presented a detailed design and site map during the meeting, which was accepted by the committee.
In addition to the Rail Bhawan initiative, the committee also turned its attention to persistent traffic snarls at Mahipalpur and Rangpuri Roads.
Illegal parking and encroachments in these areas were highlighted as major contributors to gridlock. MCD, Delhi Police, and local SDMs have been instructed to carry out frequent encroachment removal drives, while additional traffic police will be deployed to key hotspots like NH-48 and Mahipalpur during peak hours.
To reduce waterlogging during the monsoon, agencies such as the MCD, PWD, and I&FC were directed to expedite de-silting operations and ensure timely silt removal.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has been asked to identify vacant land in Mahipalpur for dedicated parking zones, particularly for commercial taxi operators. Schools and hospitals were also instructed to reserve parking for buses and essential services to ease congestion during rush hours.
In a separate move, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been tasked with coordinating with the telecom committee to improve mobile and internet connectivity inside the 2.5-km-long Dwarka Expressway tunnel.
With multiple government departments involved, the administration has committed to rigorous follow-ups. All agencies have been directed to submit detailed action-taken reports at the next review meeting.