GURGAON: Commuters using Dwarka Expressway will brace for disruptions as entry from the elevated service road at Daulatabad Chowk towards Delhi will remain closed for 44 days as NHAI has decided to replace an expansion joint.
The highway authorities put up barriers at the entry of the connecting flyover of the main carriageway on Tuesday. It will be closed till April 30. The closure is expected to impact those travelling from Sector 99 to 106 and adjoining areas of Dhankot, Basai and Kherki Majra, who will now need to take the surface road and merge onto the main expressway after Bijwasan toll plaza.
According to NHAI, an accident in Jan damaged the expansion joint, prompting immediate but temporary repairs. "However, upon further assessment, it was required to replace expansion joints to ensure long-term durability of the structure. The work will be completed in 44 days," said an NHAI official.
The highways authorities also maintained that "all other traffic movements will remain unaffected" on the expressway, but daily commuters anticipate congestion and delays, especially during peak hours.
The surface road, already burdened by traffic from Old Railway Road, Daultabad Road and New Palam Vihar Extension, will carry a higher volume of vehicles, slowing movement.
NHAI data indicated that Dwarka Expressway sees one lakh PCU daily. The elevated road's closure is likely to increase travel time for those heading towards Delhi from the city.
"The elevated road was a major time-saver, and now traffic will pile up on surface roads. The alternative routes, like Najafgarh Road, are already in poor condition, making things worse. NHAI must ensure quality checks to prevent such recurring issues, especially after investing Rs 9,000 crore on this project," said Abhishek Vatsa, a resident of Sector 102, who takes the expressway daily.
TOI last month reported that the expressway's city section had undergone several patchworks since its inaugural last year. Though NHAI called it "routine maintenance", many commuters raised concerns about the expressway's frequent repair work within such a short span.
"It is worrying that different sections of the expressway have been closed for repairs multiple times within a year. We hope NHAI fixes these flaws permanently instead of carrying out just patch repairs," said Dhananjay Jha, president of Suncity Avenue RWA.