New Delhi – In a bid to tackle the capital’s chronic gridlock, the Delhi government has finalised a master plan for a new parallel Ring Road. This third Ring Road will trace a route alongside the existing Inner and Outer Ring Roads, with a ₹10 crore allocation in the 2026‑27 budget earmarked for a feasibility study.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has already drafted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for an elevated corridor stretching roughly 55 kilometres. Execution is envisioned in six distinct phases, designed to create a swift, uninterrupted link between Delhi’s northern and southern districts.
Phase 1 will cover the segment from Mukarba Chowk to Ashram. In addition, priority corridors include a 9.5‑km stretch from Azadpur Flyover to ISBT Hanuman Mandir, a 2.5‑km link from Chandgi Ram Akhara to Majnu Ka Tila, and an 11.5‑km stretch from ISBT to the DND Flyover.
Working closely with traffic police, the PWD has pinpointed ten major choke points across the city—key arteries such as Ring Road, Mathura Road, Aurobindo Marg, Mehrauli‑Mahipalpur Road, and Rani Jhansi Road. Officials stress that merely adding flyovers will not resolve the congestion dilemma. With over 250,000 vehicles crowding the Ring Road during peak periods, a parallel route is increasingly seen as essential.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a budget of ₹5,921 crore for the PWD in the March 24, 2026 presentation, marking a 54 percent rise over the previous year’s ₹3,843 crore allocation. The Transport Department is slated to receive a total of ₹8,374 crore.
Project Highlights
- Total length: 55 kilometres
- Alignment: Mukarba Chowk → Ashram via DND
- Estimated outlay: ~₹7,000 crore
- DPR consultant: AECOM India
- Construction scheme: Six phases
- Projected benefit: North‑to‑south travel reduced to about 30 minutes
Despite the optimism, the venture confronts several hurdles. The feasibility study currently holds a ₹10 crore budget, while land acquisition and tree removal are projected to consume roughly two years. Moreover, relocating existing utilities beneath the elevated deck could pose significant logistical challenges.
It is noteworthy that proposals for a parallel Ring Road have surfaced three times over the past decade, yet none progressed beyond the planning stage. This freshly ratified master plan is now expected to finally deliver tangible relief from Delhi’s traffic woes.
