Barapullah Phase-III flyover leaves commuters in 3.5-km traffic jam a day after inauguration, morning peak stretches into afternoon
The newly inaugurated Barapullah Phase-III flyover in Delhi experienced severe traffic congestion on its first day of operation. Commuters reported significant delays, contradicting official claims that the project would drastically reduce travel time between Mayur Vihar and south Delhi.
Why it matters
The incident highlights infrastructure planning challenges and the gap between government project promises and real-world traffic management outcomes.
The Barapullah Phase-III elevated corridor, inaugurated on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) with the promise of cutting travel time between Mayur Vihar and south Delhi to about 15 minutes, ran into a day-one traffic jam on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) morning, with queues stretching up to 3.5 kilometres and commuters reporting waits of 40–60 minutes. Delhi traffic police said an estimated 5–6 lakh vehicles converged on the new route, overwhelming the road network at its exit.
Social media was filled with accounts from frustrated commuters. “Stuck for the last 40 minutes going from Mayur Vihar-I to IIC across the river on the road Amit Shah inaugurated yesterday. The jam extends over 3–4 kilometres. So much for the claims the distance from MV-I to AIIMS will be reduced from 45 to 15 minutes,” one commuter posted.
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