The Public Works Department (PWD) has restarted repair work on the Sarita Vihar flyover from Friday, leading to the closure of the carriageway heading from Badarpur to Ashram until August 8, officials confirmed. This move is likely to cause significant traffic delays for commuters travelling between southeast Delhi, Noida, and Faridabad.
Officials said the repairs, which were initially launched in October 2024, were halted due to worsening pollution levels and the enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control dust levels across Delhi-NCR. Additionally, delays were caused by the model code of conduct during elections and adverse weather.
Traffic police have coordinated with the PWD and deployed 50 additional personnel at the site to regulate movement and manage congestion.
“This project faced several disruptions — first due to elections, then weather, and later traffic permissions. After securing the required clearances, the work has now resumed,” a PWD officer shared.
This flyover, located on Mathura Road, connects Delhi with Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Faridabad in Haryana, and nearby areas in southeast Delhi. It is undergoing its first major repair in 24 years. Although repairs were scheduled to start in 2023, they faced repeated postponements due to several administrative and logistical issues, including missed public notifications for traffic diversions and the ongoing Kawar Yatra.
PWD confirmed that the first phase of the work — repairs on the Ashram to Badarpur stretch — has already been completed. The current phase will focus on the opposite side — from Badarpur to Ashram.
Expect Major Delays in Key Areas
According to traffic officials, people traveling from Badarpur to Ashram and beyond should expect major congestion near Mathura Road. A senior police officer warned of potential hour-long traffic jams in areas like Sarita Vihar, New Friends Colony, Okhla, and Govindpuri.
In a public advisory, Delhi Traffic Police urged commuters to avoid the affected stretch and use alternative routes.
Suggested Alternate Routes by Delhi Traffic Police:
Route 1: From Badarpur border → MB Road → Pul Prahladpur → Lal Kuan → turn right at Maa Anandmai Marg → Crowne Plaza → Govindpuri → Modi Mill flyover → Mathura Road → Ashram
Route 2: From Badarpur → take slip road beside Sarita Vihar flyover → left turn for Okhla → move toward Crowne Plaza → Govindpuri → right turn at Modi Mill flyover → Mathura Road → Ashram
Additionally, heavy and commercial vehicles will not be allowed to pass through Mathura Road toward Sarita Vihar during this period.
Double Trouble for Commuters
The situation has worsened due to Kanwar Yatra-related restrictions already in place in Kalindi Kunj, Mathura Road, and Sarita Vihar, causing extended delays.
Ananya Sen, a 29-year-old professional working near Moolchand Hospital, voiced her frustration:
“The Kanwar Yatra already slowed everything down. Now with this flyover repair, commuting to Sarita Vihar will be nearly impossible. It feels like the same mess that happened during the Chilla flyover repairs. We’ll be stuck in traffic for hours.”
