Digital traffic simulation model, road safety audit for 2,205km of Delhi roads

Under spotlight for congestion on Delhi’s arterial road network and worsening traffic congestion, the Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to undertake a comprehensive traffic simulation study and road safety audit covering 2,205.68km of roads across its South, North and East zones in Delhi.

The ₹11.17-crore exercise will use digital models to study traffic movement on individual road stretches and test possible solutions to congestion before implementing them on the ground. According to the project report, traffic congestion has been increasing across the city, with even stretches that earlier experienced relatively smooth traffic movement now witnessing frequent bottlenecks, particularly during peak hours.

Rising vehicle numbers, inadequate road capacity, poorly designed intersections, on-street parking and conflicting traffic movements have added to the problem. The increasing incidence of road accidents has also highlighted the need for a scientific assessment of the city’s road infrastructure.

As part of the exercise, the department will collect detailed data on traffic volumes, turning movements at intersections, vehicle speeds during peak hours, travel times, road geometry and pedestrian movement. Surveys will also cover public transport operations, parking demand and other factors influencing traffic movement.

For instance, authorities will be able to assess whether changing traffic signal timings, opening or closing U-turns, introducing dedicated turning lanes, modifying lane markings or changing traffic circulation patterns can reduce congestion.

The models will also help evaluate the impact of proposed road widening, flyovers, underpasses and other infrastructure projects before they are taken up. The three month long study will also examine major junctions to identify locations where traffic signals, road geometry and intersection designs are contributing to delays.

Possible interventions such as intersection redesign, pedestrian crossings, refuge islands, traffic calming and improved bus facilities will be assessed, officials added. In the second phase, a road safety audit will be conducted alongside the traffic simulation exercise, with particular attention to accident-prone stretches and vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The audit will assess existing road designs, visibility, signage, street lighting, road dividers, footpaths, cycle tracks and zebra crossings to identify safety deficiencies. Based on the findings, the department will recommend engineering interventions such as improved road markings, safer pedestrian crossings, better lighting, speed-control measures and redesigned junctions to reduce the risk of accidents.

Paras Singh is a New Delhi-based journalist with Hindustan Times, where he serves as Deputy Metro Editor. He reports on urban governance, the Delhi government, the Delhi BJP, water management, the environment, communities and city life.

He joined Hindustan Times in 2021 after beginning his journalism career at The Times of India in 2016, where he covered civic bodies, the water and power sectors, and urban infrastructure. Over the last decade, some of his reporting has led to significant public impact, with investigations into environmental violations, corruption and illegal industrial activity contributing to multiple judicial interventions by the National Green Tribunal and the Delhi High Court.

A graduate of St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Paras studied journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi. Having extensively covered the capital's evolving civic and governance landscape, his recent work increasingly explores Delhi's history, built heritage, urban evolution and the relationship between people and place, alongside continuing to report on governance and public policy.Read More