2 key roads in heart of Delhi to go under knife for G20 Summit

NEW DELHI: With the G20 Summit a little over four months away, the roads on which the Pragati Maidan convention centre complex, the main venue of the international event, is located will be undergoing changes.
Delhi Traffic Police has carried out an extensive on-ground survey to come up with the modifications needed on Mathura Road and Bhairon Marg. Lieutenant governor VK Saxena is monitoring the project.

The survey of the roads leading to the main summit venue as well as those that the foreign delegates will be using to reach Pragati Maidan has underlined the need to consider problems such as waterlogging, illumination, signage and road design at around seven points.
With the heads of states, heads of government, heads of international organisations and VIPs expected to enter the convention complex from Gate 6 on Mathura Road and Gate 7 on Bhagwan Das Road, the important change would be a cut in the central verge on the Bhagwan Das Road-Mathura Road crossing. The cut would be made on both carriageways in front of Gate 7 to facilitate the movement of the heads of states. To ensure the cut is visible to vehicles, traffic police have asked the agencies concerned to install rumble strips and blinkers at the spot. The island on Bhagwan Das Road will also be redesigned for a smooth entry to Gate 7.
On Bhairon Marg, the slums opposite Gate 1 will be removed, the subway from Gate 4 to Bhairon Mandir will be extended for pedestrians and the drains there will be covered.
Near the Supreme Court metro station, the first U-turn will be closed and the spot outside the metro station where buses and auto-rickshaws are allowed to halt for passengers will be shifted. In addition, pedestrian movement on the path at the entry of the metro station will be restricted.
Other important measures will be the redesigning of the central verge under the skywalk at the start of Mathura Road, removal of the iron grille on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, pruning of trees and painting of zebra crossings on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Mathura Road near the petrol pump, beautification of the wall of Matka Peer and smoothening of the uneven road stretch there.
All roads leading to Raj Ghat will also undergo a revamp because of the high probability of heads of states and government visiting the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
The LG and senior officials inspected the various locations last week and emphasised not just the beautification, but also the road safety architecture. SS Yadav, special commissioner of police (Traffic), said, “The agencies concerned have been informed about the various measures required for smooth and safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians. They will make these changes in the coming months.”