The last hurdle in the way of completion of the Barapullah Phase 3 flyover has now been cleared after receiving permissions from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to fell 250 trees. With the clearance, the Public Works Department (PWD) will be able to complete the long-delayed project that is aimed at easing traffic in the National Capital Area.

“We have received in-principle approval for felling of trees from the CEC… As the CEC has given permission to fell trees, work on the ground will start soon. The trees are located near the Mayur Vihar stretch,” said government officials to the national media.

The CEC is a member committee formulated by the Supreme Court of India to monitor afforestation and tree-cutting permissions to execute big projects.

Barapullah Phase 3

The Phase 3 project is said to be completed within six months after the permission to fell trees is granted, according to the PWD Minister, Parvesh Sahib Singh. The minister has also said that the government is planning to operationalise the project by December this year.

Barapullah Phase 3 project is a 3.5 km elevated corridor project for seamless connectivity between Mayur Vihar Phase 1 in East Delhi to AIIMS in South Delhi. The new flyover will merge the existing Barapullah flyover at Sarai Kale Khan with the new corridor to significantly enhance East-West connectivity in the capital city.

The flyover is likely to ease traffic congestion at choke points such as Nizamuddin Bridge, Bhairon Marg, Ashram Chowk, and Ring Road.

Phase 3 of the Barapullah flyover project was approved in 2014 and was launched in April 2015 with the target to complete the work by 2017. However, the project got delayed due to a range of issues including land acquisition, the COVID-19 pandemic, seasonal floods, and pending forest department approval for the relocation of over 250 trees.