Can a route be developed to quickly take people from central Delhi to Indira Gandhi International Airport? Concerned about the hurdles in the current approaches to the airport, Delhi Development Authority is conducting a feasibility study to find out how the two terminals can be best linked with central Delhi. "The consultant we have hired will explore all possibilities in connecting CP , the reference point in central Delhi, with the airport and submit its report in six-eight months," disclosed a DDA official. The new route could be comprised of elevated, underground and at grade sections, depending on land availability.

Delhi ranks sixth among Indian cities in terms of average travel time taken to reach the airport, according to a study titled `Benchmarking of Accessibility and Connectivity of India Airports' led by Amal Jose of the School of Planning and Architecture. A concerned Delhi high court recently asked the government agencies to find ways to decongest the roads leading to IGIA.

However, transport experts are sceptical about such a direct link, pointing out that Delhi's growth has been multidirectional. As Amit Bhatt, director of transport, WRI India, explained, "Delhi is no longer a city with a single central business district (CBD). In fact, central Delhi is not a CBD anymore. Noida, Gurgaon, etc, act as CBD, making travelling in Delhi multi-directional."

Transport planning experts also feel the focus should be on network improvement rather than "spot management" of bottlenecks. Sewa Ram, professor of transport planning at SPA, said, "We are addressing the problem of congestion in a piecemeal manner. The right approach is to improve the area or network, as the ripple effect of congestion at one place is felt at other intersections and arterial roads nearby." Bhatt also suggested improving the reliability of public transport." Delhi should learn from Hyderabad and Bengaluru. They have excellent bus service for the airport."

The traffic police fear that with so many projects being simultaneously planned in the same area, commuters are likely to face problems for at least a year and a half. Cops will permit use of additional construction space at Rao Tula Ram Marg (RTR) from July , but the underpass section under Ring Road will have to wait. "Simultaneous work will block both the arterial roads," said a senior traffic police officer.

DDA's plan is the latest among numerous projects on decongesting the routes. Since 2014, PWD has been working on the construction of the second RTR flyover along with an underpass. It is also improving the corridor from Andheria Mor to NH-8. However, while the RTR flyover work started in 2014, it is only 11% complete.Work on Phase I of the Andheria Mor-NH-8 project, proposed by PWD in 2012, is also moving slowly . Phases II and III are yet to get the final nod of UTTI PEC, the apex body clearing development projects. A part of the Phase III work has been handed over to NHAI.

In addition, NHAI recently announced plans to construct two underpasses and two flyovers on the stretch from Dhaula Kuan to NH-8.