Although the Ashram flyover is open, people living and travelling between South Delhi and NCR cities will have to brace themselves for heavy traffic from Sunday. The public works department (PWD) has begun repairing the Chirag Delhi flyover on the outer ring road and the stretch will be shut for 50 days. According to PWD officials, the Chirag Delhi flyover that was constructed decades ago is in need of dire repair. "During this period, re-carpeting and repairs to strengthen the expansion joints will occur. Traffic will be slow but commuters need not worry as one carriageway will be closed first, and the other will be open for traffic," said the official. The closure of this flyover is likely to affect the traffic movement on the Outer Ring Road stretch from Modi Mill flyover to IIT Delhi towards Vasant Kunj, the airport and Munirka. The stretch connects South Extension, AIIMS, Malviya Nagar, BRT Corridor and Savitri Cinema, which will also be affected. The stretch also connects IIT Hostel, Vasant Kunj, Defence Colony, Sheikh Sarai and INA. Initially, work was set to start in January and go till February 27, but due to Republic Day and the closure of the Ashram flyover, the work was postponed. "The traffic police have now given us NOC to start the repair work. They have also prepared the traffic map with alternative routes for the commuters travelling on this stretch," said an official. According to an advisory posted by Delhi Traffic Police on Twitter, the carriageways of the Chirag Dilli flyover on ORR will be closed for 50 days from March 12. The repairs of each carriageway will take 25 days and it will be closed to traffic. "The other carriageway will remain operational for the traffic. The repairs of the carriageway from Nehru Place to IIT Delhi Flyover will be taken up first and the repairs of the carriageway from IIT Delhi Flyover to Nehru Place will be taken up thereafter. The closure of the carriageway may increase the volume of traffic on the road and cause inconvenience to the general public," read the advisory. The commuters heading to railway stations, airport, hospitals etc., are advised to plan their departure and take alternate routes to avoid delays, said the traffic police. The commuters heading towards Dhaula Kuan, AIIMS, Defence Colony etc. are advised to take a right turn from under Nehru Place flyover and follow Lala Lajpat Rai Marg towards Moolchand Hospital flyover for their destination. The commuters heading towards Greater Kailash and Nehru Place from IIT Delhi on Outer Ring Road are advised to take a left turn from Panch sheel Flyover towards August Kranti Marg to go to Ring Road and take a right turn from under the Moolchand flyover towards Lala Lajpat Rai Marg to reach their destination. Those commuters heading towards Greater Kailash and Nehru Place from IIT Delhi on Outer Ring Road are advised to take a left turn from the IIT flyover towards Aurobindo Marg to go to Ring Road and take a right turn from under the Moolchand flyover towards Lala Lajpat Rai Marg to reach their destination. "The movement of heavy and commercial vehicles on Outer Ring Road towards the Chirag Delhi flyover may be restricted as and when required to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the stretch," read the advisory.
