15-Min Promise To Traffic Chaos: What Went Wrong With Delhi’s Barapullah Phase 3?

Delhi’s Barapullah Phase III was built to cut travel time between Mayur Vihar and South Delhi, but within days of its opening, the new corridor became a major traffic bottleneck. The six-lane stretch funnels multiple traffic streams into the older, narrower Barapullah network at Sarai Kale Khan, where eight to nine lanes reportedly converge into just three. Traffic from Mayur Vihar, the Sundial loop and DND side further adds pressure. Experts say the situation highlights the funnel effect, induced demand and Braess’ Paradox, where adding road capacity can shift congestion instead of eliminating it. The Delhi Traffic Police has also flagged inaccurate Google Maps traffic updates. Authorities are now considering a U-turn, road modifications and other short-term measures to ease the congestion.