The Barapullah Phase 3 traffic jam has returned on the Mayur Vihar-to-AIIMS carriageway after three days of relatively lighter traffic, causing major delays for commuters travelling through South Delhi on Monday. Traffic is being diverted near the Mayur Vihar traffic signal, while police personnel have been deployed at key points along the 3.5-kilometre stretch.
The congestion extends from Ashram towards Sarai Kale Khan and affects vehicles heading from Mayur Vihar towards AIIMS. During the three-day holiday period, traffic volumes across Delhi fell as government and private offices and establishments remained closed or operated with fewer commuters. With normal activity resuming on Monday, pressure on the corridor increased again.
According to the traffic police, the road approaching from Mayur Vihar has three lanes up to Sarai Kale Khan. Beyond that point, the route towards AIIMS narrows to two lanes. Traffic from several connected routes also converges on the same section, including vehicles using the Sarai Kale Khan loop, the slip road connected to the DND loop, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Ashram Extension and Maharani Bagh Road.
This combination of a lane reduction and multiple merging streams is contributing to the recurring congestion, the traffic police said. The problem has remained despite the deployment of personnel at major points along the route. At the Mayur Vihar red light, vehicles are being diverted towards Akshardham, while Google Maps is guiding some motorists towards Barapullah based on available route information.
The current traffic arrangement is intended to manage vehicle movement until changes are made at the road junctions. The traffic police said motorists are expected to receive real-time updates on Google within the next two days. Signals are also proposed for the affected stretch, while corrections at merger points could take more than a week.
Until those measures are implemented, additional staff are being used to regulate traffic and reduce bottlenecks. The route is a key connection between eastern and southern parts of Delhi, and the congestion is particularly affecting motorists travelling through Sarai Kale Khan before continuing towards AIIMS.
The immediate traffic management effort is focused on diversion, on-ground regulation and route information. Longer-term relief on the corridor will depend on the installation of signals and the correction of the merger points identified by the traffic police.