Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Barapullah Phase-III Jams Highlight Lane Bottleneck and Mapping Problems
Drivers faced a long traffic jam on the new Barapullah Phase-III corridor in Delhi.
The jam was reported during the morning rush on October 5.
Some drivers said they travelled only about two kilometres in 30 minutes.
Police said traffic from several roads and ramps squeezes into three lanes on an older flyover.
That narrow point can slow many vehicles at once.
Police also said Google Maps showed smooth traffic even when the road was crowded.
Officers were sent to manage traffic, and some vehicles were directed toward NH-24 and DND.
The corridor was built to improve connections from Mayur Vihar toward south Delhi.
The Public Works Department said officials would consider ways to reduce the congestion, but had not chosen a solution.
Motorists reported a traffic jam of more than two kilometres on the Mayur Vihar–AIIMS stretch during the October 5 morning rush.
Delhi Traffic Police said traffic from around eight to nine lanes converges into three lanes on the old Barapullah flyover.
Police said Google Maps showed smooth traffic despite the congestion and diverted vehicles toward NH-24 and DND.
Commuters reported long delays, while police said personnel had been deployed at merging points to regulate traffic.
The Public Works Department said it would explore possible changes to ease congestion, but no final decision had been made.
- Who
- Motorists using the corridor and Delhi Traffic Police; the Public Works Department said it would explore possible solutions.
- What
- A major traffic jam affected the newly opened Barapullah Phase-III corridor, with police identifying a lane-merging bottleneck.
- When
- Monday, October 5, during the morning rush, days after the corridor's inauguration.
- Where
- Around Mayur Vihar Phase-I Metro station and the old Barapullah flyover, on the Mayur Vihar–AIIMS stretch in Delhi.
- Why
- Police said traffic from around eight to nine lanes converges into three lanes on the old flyover; they also said Google Maps did not reflect the actual congestion.
Commuters and Urban-Planning Concerns
Traffic Police and Government Response
Whether the new route is easing travel
Commuters and Urban-Planning Concerns
Motorists described severe delays and some advised others to avoid the route during morning hours; the article also notes that added road capacity can shift congestion to a narrower downstream section.
Traffic Police and Government Response
Police said the corridor was opened to improve connectivity and identified the merge on the old flyover as the main bottleneck.
Role of traffic information
Commuters and Urban-Planning Concerns
Commuters experienced heavy congestion, while the article reports that Google Maps showed the stretch as smooth, potentially encouraging continued use of the route.
Traffic Police and Government Response
Police said Google Maps was not reflecting actual traffic conditions and diverted vehicles toward NH-24 and DND.
How to address the congestion
Commuters and Urban-Planning Concerns
The article raises concerns that adding road capacity can create or move bottlenecks, and that more road space may attract additional traffic.
Traffic Police and Government Response
The Public Works Department said it would explore possible restructuring with Delhi Traffic Police and the National Highways Authority of India, but no final decision had been taken.
- Reported date
- Monday, October 5
- Reported jam length
- More than two kilometres
- Affected route
- Mayur Vihar–AIIMS stretch, including the Barapullah Phase-III corridor
- Police-identified bottleneck
- Traffic from around eight to nine lanes merges into three lanes on the old Barapullah flyover.
- Police response
- Personnel were deployed at merging points, and traffic was diverted toward NH-24 and DND.
- Navigation issue
- Police said Google Maps continued to show smooth traffic despite the congestion.
- Possible next steps
- The Public Works Department said officials would explore whether part of the flyover could be restructured; no final decision had been made.
- Corridor purpose
- Improve connectivity between Mayur Vihar and the Barapullah network and provide a faster link toward south Delhi.
