Why smooth ride on DND Flyway is a stretch: Potholes, rough patches trouble commuters from Mayur Vihar, Noida

NEW DELHI: Parts of DND Flyway, meant to be a fast route to the capital, has turned into a bumpy and frustrating ride for commuters from Mayur Vihar and Noida over the past few months.

Driving from Mayur Vihar, you hit the first rough patch once you cross the now-defunct toll plaza. The surface of the once-smooth road is uneven and even broken in places.

Conditions worsen further near the exit loop towards Sarai Kale Khan, where a damaged stretch extends around 500 metres. The section, which has remained like this for months, is crucial as it funnels traffic towards Ring Road and South Delhi.



TOI drove down the stretch on Wednesday and found potholes dotting it, forcing vehicles to manoeuvring the uneven surface with caution, resulting in traffic slowing down considerably. Two-wheelers wobbled and cars nearly scraped their underbellies.

Commuters said the problem has persisted for at least three months. Brijesh, who uses the DND regularly for fieldwork, said, "There's no improvement. You almost get used to it because nothing changes."

Shareef Khan, a daily commuter from Noida, echoed this concern. "This stretch is already congested because of traffic headed for Ring Road and Sarai Kale Khan, which lie ahead. Even at 1.30 pm, when the flow is lighter than during office hours, this stretch makes the situation worse," he said.

Raj Kumar, who travels on a two-wheeler, described his daily struggle. "There is constant discomfort as the bike shakes badly. Both carriageways are bumpy on this stretch," he said.

Even more worrying is the fact that the damage is not accidental. Near the toll point, uneven surface and potholes sit next to crumbling edges, indicating that repairs were either done shoddily or left unfinished.

Similarly, near the loop towards Sarai Kale Khan, boards with repair signs are in place. Even Google Maps warns one of construction ahead, but little work is seen on the ground.

This stretch stands out because it handles a high volume of office-goers, inter-city commuters, buses and commercial vehicles. Even small disruptions here have a cascading impact on traffic.

Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited is responsible for the upkeep of the DND Flyway. One of its officials told TOI, "According to the plan, the company awarded the upgradation work and commenced preliminary activities after completing all preparatory work, including accounting for material, manpower and detailed execution plans for the entire stretch, as early as the third week of Oct 2025. Work was expected to be completed by the end of Dec or Jan 2026. In the past six months, Rs 7 crore was already spent."

However, the repair work could not be started owing to statutory restrictions under GRAP-IV, the official said. "In the past three months, there was hardly a day when work could be done. Once anti-pollution measures ease and conditions are conducive to commence work, it is expected to be completed within approximately five weeks."