Delhi Traffic Advisory: Delhi's Ashoka Road Temporarily Closed For Sewer Repairs Till This Date

Starting Monday, one carriageway of Ashoka Road in New Delhi will be partially shut for a month as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) undertakes necessary repairs on damaged sewer lines beneath the road.

This closure, affecting one of the Capital's key arterial roads, is expected to cause significant traffic disruptions.

Partial Closure Of Delhi's Ashoka Road Till September

According to NDMC officials, a nearly 1-kilometer stretch of Ashoka Road, spanning from the Jaswant Singh Marg roundabout to the Windsor Place roundabout, will be closed to traffic from August 12 to September 10. Commuters traveling from C Hexagon near India Gate towards Windsor Place are being advised to use Kasturba Gandhi Marg and proceed via the Firoz Shah Road traffic signal to reach their destination, as reported by Hindutsan Times.

The decision to carry out these repairs follows the occurrence of two cave-ins on Ashoka Road in July, caused by damage to the sewer lines. The first cave-in, which occurred near 14, Ashoka Road, led to the barricading of nearly half the carriageway. The second cave-in, located near the Windsor Place roundabout, has already been contributing to traffic snarls during peak hours.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Due to repair work of sewer barrel by NDMC, one carriage way of Ashoka Road from Jaswant Singh Roundabout to Windsor Place Roundabout will be closed for traffic from 12.08.2024 to 10.09.2024.
Inconvenience caused is highly regretted.
The details in the poster. pic.twitter.com/cLFYP5pfCy

— New Delhi Municipal Council Official (@tweetndmc) August 12, 2024

Traffic authorities have announced that an adequate number of personnel will be deployed at diversion points to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, especially during peak office hours. Commuters have been encouraged to follow the suggested alternative routes to minimize delays, as reported by Hindustan Times.

NDMC officials have indicated that many of the sewer lines in the area were installed before India's Independence and are now in urgent need of replacement. The old sewer lines, which have deteriorated over time, are prone to leaks, leading to soil erosion and road damage.

As a result, the damaged sections of the pipeline will be replaced as part of the ongoing upgradation work. This effort includes rehabilitating old brick-barrel sewer lines in various parts of Lutyens' Delhi, with a focus on areas such as Q Point to Sunehri Pulla drain, Bharti Nagar, and Archbishop Makarios Marg.

Another NDMC official highlighted that sewer lines in other areas of New Delhi, including Mathura Road, Lodhi Road, and Connaught Place, have already been rehabilitated. However, many of these lines, made from outdated materials and technologies, have suffered damage over the decades due to corrosive gases from the sewers, which have gradually worn away the outer layers.

Gopal Krishan, head of the New Delhi Resident Welfare Association (RWA) federation, expressed concern over the lack of timely infrastructure upgrades. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to increase the capacity of New Delhi's basic infrastructure, given the significant population growth in the area, as per media reports.

Commuters like Rajesh Kushwaha, who works near Patel Chowk, have voiced concerns about the impact of the road closure on traffic. The partial shutdown is expected to increase the load on alternative routes, particularly during evening peak hours, and there is hope that the repair work will be completed swiftly to minimize disruption.