The Old Rao Tula Ram (RTR) flyover — a critical corridor linking South Delhi to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport — was reopened for light vehicles on Monday, 26 October 2025, following emergency repair work completed within a week of its sudden closure. Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh made the announcement after personally inspecting the completed repairs at the site.

Why the Flyover Was Shut Down

The carriageway towards IGI Airport from Vasant Vihar was closed on 20 October after Delhi Traffic Police detected cracks at two points on the road surface. A follow-up structural inspection confirmed the severity of the damage — deteriorating concrete in the gap slab section, visible fractures on the carriageway, and exposed iron reinforcement rods. Traffic was halted immediately as a precautionary measure.

The flyover, completed in 2009, has been in continuous service for over 17 years and is among the most heavily used stretches in South Delhi, channelling thousands of vehicles daily from Vasant Vihar and surrounding neighbourhoods toward the airport.

What Repairs Were Carried Out

According to officials, the PWD mobilised repair teams promptly after the closure. The work focused on the deteriorated gap slab section and the exposed reinforcement rods flagged during inspection. Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh visited the site alongside senior PWD officials to review progress before clearing the structure for restricted use.

'The necessary repair work has been completed, and the flyover will be reopened for light vehicles starting this evening. A comprehensive structural audit is also underway to ensure the strength and long-term safety of this flyover, which was constructed in 2009,' the Minister said.

Conditions of Reopening and Ongoing Audit

In the current phase, the flyover is open exclusively to light vehicles. Whether heavier traffic will be permitted depends on the findings of a comprehensive structural audit now being conducted by the PWD. The audit is designed to assess the overall health of the 17-year-old structure and identify any additional strengthening or maintenance requirements.

Notably, this reopening is partial and conditional — a detail significant for heavy-vehicle operators and logistics companies that routinely use the corridor as an airport approach route.

Impact on Commuters During the Closure

During the six-day closure, traffic was redirected to the adjoining service road, triggering heavy congestion and prolonged queues at peak hours. Daily commuters, airport travellers, taxi operators, and residents of nearby colonies all reported significantly extended travel times. The reopening is expected to provide immediate relief to this constituency.

The PWD has urged commuters to observe the light-vehicle restriction, follow traffic advisories, and cooperate with Delhi Traffic Police personnel deployed at the flyover. Further updates will be issued once the structural audit is complete, officials said. The pace at which a six-year-old crack detection was acted upon — and repaired within a week — will likely set a benchmark expectation for Delhi's broader ageing flyover network going forward.