Delhi Traffic Police Propose Bypass for Interstate Buses to Ease City Congestion

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In a bid to alleviate chronic congestion on Delhi's Ring Road, the Delhi Traffic Police have recommended diverting interstate buses from the Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) onto the newly opened Dehradun Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Expressway. The proposal, sent to the transport department and Public Works Department (PWD), aims to reroute buses heading to North India, including Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, to reduce congestion on Ring Road and its adjacent corridors. According to deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) Nishant Gupta, the current route creates severe bottlenecks at locations like Chandgi Ram Akhara and GT Karnal Bypass, leading to prolonged idling of vehicles, air pollution, and commuter safety risks. Under the new plan, buses would exit the ISBT, proceed via GT Road and Shastri Park, and then access the Dehradun Expressway before connecting to the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. The expressway-based route is designed for long-haul travel and is already used by many motorists to avoid city traffic. The proposal follows a representation from the Guru Hanuman Society of Bharat, a road safety NGO that studied both routes and urged authorities to reconsider the current alignment for interstate buses. Urban transport expert Atul Ranjeet Kumar, president of the NGO, supports the proposal, noting that shifting intercity bus traffic out of the city core is an effective way to reduce congestion. The transport department has not yet reviewed the plan, but officials say they will consider the proposal if the routes are feasible.