Chaos Chokes Chirag Dilli Intersection | Delhi News – Times of India

New Delhi: From the moment you enter the carriageway at Nehru Place, the approach to the Chirag Dilli intersection in south Delhi feels like entering a slow-moving funnel. The carriageway lead to a restless, three-way merger —straight ahead, traffic pours from the side closer to Panchsheel Park; to the left, a steady stream pushes out from the carriageway closer to Chirag Dilli; and from the right, a solid line of cars, autos, and buses drive in from the side closer to Greater Kailash I and Lajpat Nagar.Recently, TOI reported that the traffic cops had initiated a detailed traffic survey of the Chirag Dilli intersection in collaboration with the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) to identify engineering-led solutions. That survey is complete.Rohit Baluja, director, IRTE, said, “The primary reason for congestion is the poor design of the junction, inappropriate placement of traffic lights, absence of information signage and unsafe and non-coordinated pedestrian facilities. For proper functioning and operation of traffic signals, the geometrics need to be improved to allow traffic flow to correspond with the space availability and the signal timings also programmed accordingly.“Based on the survey findings, sources said traffic police will likely involve civic authorities and draw up a coordinated plan to ease the passage on the high-pressure corridor.With plans for a new underpass there reportedly under discussion, TOI visited the site to find that it’s not just the traffic — its intersection’s choreography is barely holding together. A vital connector in south Delhi, it links Outer Ring Road with key neighbourhoods like Saket and Greater Kailash while also offering access to institutions such as AIIMS and IIT Delhi and to many Delhi Metro stations. In fact, from gated communities to packed unauthorised colonies, all cross paths at this restless point.A typical scene there: engines hum. Horns start soft, then grow louder. Brake lights flicker as drivers inch forward, hoping for progress. Delivery bikes try to weave through narrow gaps. Pedestrians dart between bumpers. Bus passengers peer out from windows, watching traffic from other sides flow more freely. Even the sidewalks are consumed by stranded autos and impatient two-wheelers.The picture changes according to the time of day. In the mornings, the left arm — Chirag Dilli — is abuzz with autos, bikes and school vans. By late afternoon, the right side from Lajpat becomes the pressure point. The traffic then can stretch back half a kilometre. Meanwhile, movement of vehicles on the Nehru Place side seems to be the slowest, not because of volume at the back, but because they are last in the queue.Traffic officers manually regulate signals during the peak hours. The lights are calibrated to prioritise the heavier flows from the major routes, with the green light lingering on for them. But on Outer Ring Road closer to Nehru Place, the light turns green for barely a breath. By the time a handful of cars lurch forward, it’s already red again.One aspect of the problem is the sheer vehicular volume. During peak hours, around 60,000 vehicles pass by the intersection. But there’s another reason. The signage and lane markings at the intersection are limited or confusing. Bad road ethics only worsen the situation. Cyclists and two-wheelers idle right in the middle of the carriageway, directly in the path of oncoming vehicles as if traffic will somehow make space around them. At times, they block the turning lanes or force larger vehicles to brake or swerve, disrupting whatever little rhythm the junction might have. Traffic police claimed they acted against errant drivers instantly.