Why Dhaula Kuan is ranked third on list of top 10 black spots in Delhi

As per the ‘Delhi Crash Report 2021’, released by the Traffic Police, Dhaula Kuan was not on the list of black spots that year but it figured on the list of 87 crash-prone zones — at number 40. It saw 11 accidents, of which three were fatal.

During its spatial analysis on black spots for the year 2022, the Delhi Traffic Police, along with civic agencies and road safety experts, identified problems and suggested possible remedial measures. At Dhaula Kuan, according to the analysis, there are several infrastructural problems. Here, traffic merges at Sardar Patel (SP) Marg — vehicles come from Connaught Place down the flyover and from Moti Bagh. The road across the flyover houses the Delhi Cantt police station.

Traffic police and experts stated that a majority of accidents occur at the point where the Gurgaon Road-SP Marg merge near the Dhaula Kuan metro station pillar in front of a petrol pump. “Most conflicts occur due to merging traffic… the subway is in a dilapidated condition and there is a lack of signages at the intersection. The reason for occurrence of road accidents was found to be diverging and merging traffic, creating conflict points,” experts observed.

Moreover, auto rickshaws and cabs parked alongside the carriageway also posed a problem, they further observed.

Ground report

When The Indian Express visited the stretch on July 1 at 12 pm, it found that there was no planned route for pedestrians.

Further, the petrol pump, which is at the heart of the junction, is a pain point. Vehicles exiting the pump fight for space on the road with buses coming from the main arterial road. Traffic from both ends then enters a service lane adjoining the main road nearby, which is also crowded with several auto-rickshaws and four-wheelers.

A footover bridge is located at least a kilometre away from the main junction, where the escalator on one side was not functioning on the day The Indian Express visited. A subway is located along the footpath a few metres away.

Sunita (30), who was heading to Gurgaon in her car, said, “Buses, while coming down the flyover from Connaught Place, often drive fast… It is difficult for pedestrians to navigate this stretch as the foot overbridge is far away and the subway is a little distance away from the main road.”

A senior traffic officer posted in the area said, “The junction is a crucial spot in terms of traffic as most  vehicles go towards Gurgaon from here… buses constitute a major part of the traffic in the area but as several e-rickshaws are already stationed on service lane, it becomes difficult for commuters and buses to navigate. The metro pillar is also placed in a way which creates less breathing space for vehicles entering the service lane.”

On this black spot, road safety expert Professor PK Sarkar said, “There should be at-grade and grade separated locations for merging and diverging traffic at the spot. An extra lane should have been created (keeping in mind the traffic volume)…”

The solution

The analysis by traffic police and experts at this spot concluded that the central verge should be extended from merging and diverging points up to the metro pillar to ensure “conflict-free movement of traffic on the foot of SP Marg Flyover”, which comes from Connaught Place.

They stated, “There is a need for proper illumination of the location. Proper road signages have to be installed for guidance of motorists to decide destination. In view of the G-20 Summit, traffic prepaid booth needs to be replaced with a new and better designed structure as Gurgaon Road will be the main carriageway bringing dignitaries to the city.”