Kilometre-long traffic snarls in South Delhi as RTR flyover ramp to Vasant Vihar closes for repairs

Repair work under way on the RTR flyover, which is expected to reopen on Monday. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement iThe Old Ring Road–Rao Tula Ram (RTR) flyover ramp towards Vasant Vihar was closed for urgent repairs after cracks, concrete deterioration and exposed reinforcement were observed in a section of the structure, triggering traffic snarls stretching nearly a kilometre on the service road on Wednesday (October 22, 2026).The closure has disrupted traffic on a key route connecting Gurugram and the Indira Gandhi International Airport to south Delhi. The descending ramp towards Vasant Vihar has been shut, with vehicles diverted onto the service road alongside the flyover.Speaking to The Hindu, New Delhi Traffic Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikas Kumar said the Old and New RTR flyovers together handle more than two lakh vehicles a day. The Old RTR flyover is a critical link for traffic travelling from Gurugram and the airport towards IIT-Delhi.“Concrete deterioration, visible cracks and exposed reinforcement had been observed in the gap slab section of the Old RTR flyover. In view of the structural distress, traffic was temporarily suspended and repair and rehabilitation work initiated,” a Public Works Department (PWD) official said.The PWD expects to complete the repair work by Thursday morning. However, the ramp will remain closed for 48 hours after the work is completed to allow the repaired concrete to cure and develop adequate strength. The department is aiming to complete the work by Sunday so that the route can be reopened to traffic on Monday.“Traffic police personnel detected the cracks during mobile patrols and alerted the PWD. To expedite the repairs, we coordinated with the department to deploy two teams simultaneously on separate damaged stretches,” Mr. Kumar said.The traffic police have also coordinated with Google Maps to mark the flyover as closed and direct commuters towards alternative routes. Additional personnel have been deployed to regulate traffic, while the Gurugram Police have been alerted to restrict heavy vehicles from entering the affected route to ease congestion.Motorists travelling from Gurugram towards Vasant Vihar have been advised to continue towards Dhaula Kuan and take the U-turn or underpass to reach their destination. The traffic police have urged commuters to avoid the affected stretch, plan their journeys, follow instructions from personnel deployed at the site and refrain from stopping or parking near the repair work. Published - October 22, 2026 12:21 am IST