In a move aimed at easing traffic congestion in South Delhi, the Delhi government is set to revive the long-pending widening and upgradation project of Mandi Road. Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma announced that the 8.8-kilometre stretch will be handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for expansion and management.
“To decongest Mandi Road, we plan to transfer it to NHAI. They are better equipped to handle land acquisition, which is crucial for this project,” Verma said.
The project, considered vital for improving traffic flow along the busy Mehrauli-Gurugram Road corridor, had remained on hold for over a decade. Originally conceived in 2012, the detailed project report was prepared by a PWD-appointed consultant and submitted to the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC). Although the plan was made public in 2013 for feedback from residents and resident welfare associations, it was subsequently shelved.
At the time, the estimated cost of the project was Rs 597 crore.
The road, which connects MG Road near Chattarpur Metro Station to Faridabad Road across the Haryana border, is a key route for commuters travelling between Gurugram and South Delhi. Flanked by upscale farmhouses, residential properties, and commercial establishments, Mandi Road frequently experiences heavy traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.
Verma added that the project received a fresh approval in 2023 during a UTTIPEC meeting chaired by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. As per the Delhi Master Plan, the road should have a width of 100 feet, but a ground survey revealed that it has narrowed to just 60 feet in many stretches.
To complete the widening, approximately 20 hectares of land will need to be acquired, officials said.
As part of broader decongestion efforts in the area, the government is also planning a feasibility study for a new flyover near the intersection of Main Chattarpur Road and SSN Marg.
The move to hand over Mandi Road to NHAI follows a broader strategy by the Delhi government, which recently transferred four other major roads from PWD to the highway authority for better management and expansion.
