New Delhi: In a bid to tackle the capital’s chronic gridlock, the Delhi government has finalized a master plan for a new parallel Ring Road. This third Ring Road will run alongside the existing Inner and Outer Ring Roads, creating a high‑speed, elevated artery across the city.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has completed a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for an approximately 55‑kilometre elevated corridor. The scheme is slated for implementation in six distinct phases, promising faster, uninterrupted connectivity between Delhi’s northern and southern zones.

Phased Implementation and Priority Segments

Phase 1 will cover the stretch from Mukarba Chowk to Ashram. Additional priority corridors include:

  • 9.5 km from Azadpur Flyover to ISBT Hanuman Mandir
  • 2.5 km from Chandgi Ram Akhara to Majnu Ka Tila
  • 11.5 km from ISBT to DND Flyover

Targeting Delhi’s Biggest Bottlenecks

Working closely with traffic police, the PWD has pinpointed ten major choke points—key stretches such as Ring Road, Mathura Road, Aurobindo Marg, Mehrauli‑Mahipalpur Road, and Rani Jhansi Road. Officials stress that merely building flyovers will not solve the problem; a parallel, high‑capacity route is essential to accommodate the more than 250,000 vehicles that flood the Ring Road during peak hours.

Financial Commitment

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta allocated ₹5,921 crore to the PWD in the budget presented on 24 March 2026, a 54 % rise over the previous year’s ₹3,843 crore. The Transport Department received a complementary allocation of ₹8,374 crore.

Project Snapshot

  • Total length: 55 km
  • Alignment: Mukarba Chowk → Ashram (via DND)
  • Estimated outlay: ~₹7,000 crore
  • DPR consultant: AECOM India
  • Construction: Six phases
  • Projected benefit: North‑South travel time reduced to roughly 30 minutes

Anticipated Hurdles

While ₹10 crore has been earmarked for the feasibility study, the project faces several practical obstacles. Land acquisition and tree removal are expected to take about two years, and relocating utilities beneath the existing Ring Road during construction could pose significant logistical challenges.

Historically, proposals for a parallel Ring Road have been tabled three times over the past decade, yet none progressed beyond the planning stage. This fresh master plan, backed by robust funding and a phased rollout, is poised to finally deliver lasting relief from Delhi’s traffic woes.