Delhi’s civic agencies are planning a series of interventions to decongest the area around Akshardham Metro station, with a focus on streamlining heavy traffic on the Noida Link Road due to increased number of vehicles after the opening of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, government officials said.
Officials said the proposed interventions include implementation of the Multimodal Transport Integration Plan, under which more bus stops will be added, pedestrian movement will be streamlined, and changes will be made to the central edges.
More bus stops have been planned on the Delhi-Noida Link route
“During the review (by road management agencies), the Delhi Traffic Police observed that the bus stops available on the Delhi Noida Link Road from Lakshmi Nagar towards Mayur Vihar side are inadequate to meet the traffic needs and public requirements. More bus stops are needed on the bridge side in consultation with the Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC). The intervention should ensure that the drainage flow is not adversely affected,” the official said.
The DDA’s planning authority, UTTIPEC, reviewed the proposal in 2023 and was expected to approve it immediately. However, the authority has remained largely non-functional over the past three years. After reorganizing and reconvening three years later, it has now approved the long-awaited proposal.
Another issue discussed was how pedestrians avoided the flyover via the Delhi-Noida Link Road, but instead used the main roads to cross due to the low height of the median fence. “The PWD has been directed to raise the height of the median fence to ensure that no pedestrian movement occurs on this road,” the action plan drawn up on the issue said.
Improving pedestrian safety near Akshardham Metro
Since the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway starts from Akshardham Metro station, agencies have also been ordered to take strict action against illegal parking and encroachments in the area.
The official said that walkability in the area will be improved and efforts will be made to prevent movement at the level. The multi-modal integration plan for the areas surrounding GTB Nagar and Sarita Vihar metro station has been postponed.
In GTB Nagar, a metro station is located along Grand Trunk Road and the area faces heavy traffic congestion due to heavy commercial activities in the surrounding areas. “There is a large heavy traffic on the Grameen Sewa service on this route due to the proposal of specific assembly points to regulate the activity,” the official said.
The Delhi Traffic Police said that the roads in and around the station were heavily overrun. “Discussions are ongoing with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) regarding the foot spacing over the bridge…” the report said.
