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21 June 2008
 

   

CONSTRUCTION OF MULTI LEVEL FLYOVERS
FOR METROPOLITIAN CITIES
 
     
 

The Metropolitan cities of the world which have developed since ages through traditional technologies available at different times are facing the acute traffic problems. Such cities are the centres of economic development, sheet of knowledge and hubs of scientific innovations, therefore, for the sustenance of such cities; priority is required to be given for solving their traffic problems. Traffic problems are at alarming stage where metropolitan cities have crossed the population figure of 50 lacs. Such metropolitan cities of the world are described as below.

 

Cities Of The World Having Population Above 50 lacs

 

    

Sr. No.

Name of Metropolitan cities  ( Country )

Population
in  2007

1

Shanghai ( China )

15434642

2

Bombay ( India )

13073926

3

Karachi ( Pakistan )

12315843

4

Buenos Aires ( Argentina )

11612214

5

Delhi ( India )

11505196

6

Manila ( Philippines )

10665584

7

Moscow  ( Russia )

10568193

8

Soul  ( South Korea )

10451281

9

Istanbul ( Turkey )

10291102

10

São Paulo ( Brazil )

10095244

11

Lagos ( Nigeria )

9229944

12

Mexico City ( Mexico )

8658576

13

Jakarta (Indonesia )

8568838

14

Kinshasa (Congo Dem. Rep.)

8418819

15

Tokyo (Japan )

8403512

16

New York (United States of  America )

8141241

17

Lima  ( Peru )

7979965

18

Cairo ( Egypt )

7933236

19

Peking (China )

7724932

20

London (United Kingdom )

7554236

21

Bogotá (Colombia )

7363494

22

Tehran (Iran )

7185831

23

Dhaka (Bangladesh )

6969458

24

Lahore (Pakistan )

6659543

25

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil )

6087917

26

Baghdad (Iraq )

5831541

27

Bangalore (India )

5281927

 

                                    The major road junctions of above cities are  the main points of traffic congestion. The traffic bearing capacity of roads within  these cities can be increased by constructing multi level flyovers for smooth traffic flow on road junctions. At present, there is a  tendency for the construction of single level flyovers which solve only part traffic problem as one level flyovers do not give total solution of the traffic problems at road junctions. In fact, road junctions are the points where road users should be facilitated to move towards any direction through different levels of flyover. Therefore, in metropolitan cities where population has crossed the figure of 50 lacs, the flyovers should be planned in such a way so the road users may move in any direction without facing any signal.  This facility is possible only in multi level flyovers.

 

Elements Of Multi Level Flyovers

 

                                    The multi level flyovers include multi-storey carriageways generally having four levels where apart from the ground level, traffic moves at three other levels. In order to understand the matter in a better way, the Multi level flyover which is being constructed at Naya Azadpur, in New Delhi is described as below.

                                     The aforesaid flyover is being constructed on Ring Road at Naya Azadpur, in New Delhi at the road junction where Ring Road, Mall Road, G.T. Karnal Road and Road Number 51 intersect with each other. This  is one of the most congested road junctions where vehicles @ about 13000 vehicles per hour ( mostly of heavy vehicles ) are running towards different directions of the city. This road junction is located in  Asia’s largest vegetable and fruit market where mixed traffic of all types of vehicles remains in operation throughout the day and night. This flyover shall comprise following four levels ensuring signal-free traffic movement on Mall Road and Ring Road.

 

Level No. 1 ( The Underpass Level ) :- The      underpass will be constructed along Mall Road and GT Karnal Road for ensuring uninterrupted movement on the said  roads.

 

Level No. 2 The Ground Level:- This level shall comprise the construction of  rotary, cycle tracks, service lanes, surface-level slip roads for left-turning and signalized intersection for right-turning of the local traffic.

 

Level 3 (flyover level ):- This level shallcomprise a 780-meter long flyover connecting Ring Road with Road Number 51. This will ensure that the movement of long-distance vehicles is not interrupted by local traffic.

 

Level 4 ( The Metro Rail Level ) :- The Metro train will run above all the three level, completing the picture of four-storey traffic management.The Metro line above it which will be a part of the Vishwavidalaya-Jahangirpuri Metro line.

 

Recommendations :-

                                    At present, even in big Metropolitan Cities where population figures have crossed 50 lacs, one level flyover above ground are being constructed. All flyovers have been constructed in National Capital Region of Delhi specially the flyovers constructed on Ring Road of Delhi, Noida, Gaziabad and National Highway No. 8 Gurgaon are not solving the complete traffic problems in the absence of multi level flyovers. The long queues of local traffic Jam can always be seen below single level flyover constructed only recently. Therefore, Town Planner should recommend at least the construction of Multi Level Flyovers on all Major Road Junctions where population of Metropolitan Cities have exceeded the figures of 50 lacs. On the pattern of aforesaid described multi level flyover being constructed at Naya Azadpur in New Delhi; the traffic problems of other road junctions being faced in Metropolitan cities of the world can be solved. At present two components of flyovers i.e. provision of under pass ( Below Ground ) and construction of fourth level of flyover  wherever required are not being taken in to account due to which total traffic problem is not being solved.

Since, construction of multi level flyovers are considered part of urban infrastructure and as urban infrastructure is being developed on self financing principles, therefore, creation of such infrastructure in every Metropolitan City should not become a problem to any Government. 
                                                                    By
                                                           B.N. Sharma
                                               Retd. Senior Town Planner of
                                                     Haryana Government

 

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