More bus bays, higher railings planned near Akshardham Metro to improve traffic flow

DElhi’s civic agencies ar provision to tackle a serial publication of interventions to decongest the country around the Akshardham Metro station, with a focus on streamlining movement of heavy traffic on the Noida Link Road due to increasing vehicle count after the opening of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, government officials said.The proposed interventions include implementation of a multimodal transportation integration plan, under which more bus bays will be added, pedestrian movement will be streamlined, and changes will be made to central verges, officials said.More bus bays planned on Delhi-Noida Link Road“During a review (by roadowning agencies), Delhi Traffic Police observed that the bus bays provided on the Delhi Noida Link Road from Laxmi Nagar towards Mayur Vihar side are inadequate to cater to the traffic and public requirement. More bus bays are needed on the embankment side in consultation with Public Works Department (PWD), and irrigation and flood control (I&FC). The intervention must ensure that the flow of the drain is not adversely affected,” the official said.The planning body of DDA, UTTIPEC, had reviewed the proposal in 2023 and it was expected to be approved immediately. However, the body remained largely non-functional for the past three years. After its reorganisation and meeting after three years, it approved the long-pending proposal now. Another issue discussed was how pedestrians avoided the foot overbridge across the Delhi-Noida Link Road, but instead used the main carriageways to cross over due to the low height of the median railing. “PWD has directed to raise the height of the median railing to ensure that no at-grade pedestrian movement happens on this road,” an action plan made on the issue read.Pedestrian safety to improve near Akshardham MetroSince the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway starts from the Akshardham Metro station, agencies have also been ordered to crack down on 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 at-grade movement. The multimodal integration plan for areas around GTB Nagar and Sarita Vihar Metro station has been deferred.At GTB Nagar, an underground metro station is located along the Grand Trunk Road and the area faces major traffic congestion due to heavy commercial activities in the surrounding areas. “There is substantial heavy movement of Gramin Sewa service on this road due to which designated pick-up points have been proposed to regulate the activity,” the official said.Delhi Traffic Police submitted that the roads in and around the station are heavily encroached. “Discussions are ongoing with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) regarding a a foot over bridge...,” the report read.