Work on two major road infrastructure projects, the Anand Vihar flyover and the Punjabi Bagh flyover, has been completed but are yet to be opened for public use, according to officials. Located in highly congested areas, work on these projects started around two years ago.

"The work on the flyover is complete and it is ready for opening," said a PWD official on Wednesday. According to sources, both the flyovers are likely to be inaugurated closer to the assembly elections in Delhi, scheduled for early next year. During the time the work was under way, motorists faced heavy traffic congestion every day. Area residents are demanding that PWD open these flyovers immediately. Recently, a protest was organised by the residents of Punjabi Bagh at the newly completed flyover pressing for its opening. As the main road as blocked off until the flyover work was completed, vehicles were diverted to the service lane in front of the crematorium. The lane is narrow and the traffic heavy, which considerably slows down movement of cars.

This stretch carries a significant traffic load as it connects with Rohtak Road (NH-10) carrying traffic from Haryana. The construction of the flyover will streamline the traffic in Punjabi Bagh and help connect north Delhi with south Delhi, Gurgaon and other parts of NCR.

At the Anand Vihar flyover, which starts at the railway overbridge, delay in permission to fell trees have hindered the completion of the ramps and a footpath, which are unlikely to be finished by the time the flyover opens. The deadline for the Anand Vihar flyover, which includes an elevated corridor, pedestrian subway and the side ramps, was extended from Dec 2023 to April 2024, but the facility is still not open for public use. The project was initially planned in 2019, but the pandemic delayed its commencement. The foundation stone was finally laid in Oct 2022 by then chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Assembly speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

In Aug this year, PWD started a trial run on the new flyover. After facing several delays, the main flyover is ready and is awaiting the official inauguration. Once the 1.4km flyover is opened for use, Road No. 56 will become entirely signal-free, and people living in Ramprastha Colony, Vivek Vihar and Shresth Vihar are likely to get some relief when driving.

Jyoti Gupta, a resident of Ramprastha Colony, said, "There is no check on people driving on the wrong side. The stretch is poorly illuminated, and due to the heavy traffic, driving after dark is a big problem. If the flyover work is over and it is ready, then it should be opened for public use. At present, barriers block the entry of the flyover."