Until a few months ago, the Geeta Colony flyover—commonly referred to as Pusta Road, stretching from the Old Iron Bridge to Geeta Colony Shamshan Ghat—was infamous for its deadly reputation. In 2024 alone, it recorded 11 fatal accidents, averaging nearly one death each month. The tragedy continued into 2025, with two more lives lost in January and February. The urgent message was unmistakable: immediate intervention was essential.
This flyover isn’t a minor local route—it connects thousands of commuters daily to Vikas Marg, Ring Road, and other arterial city roads. Like many high-risk corridors across Delhi, it suffered from unmarked curves, dangerous U-turns, poor speed control, and a lack of critical signage.
Zero Deaths Since February: What Changed?
Remarkably, no fatal accidents have been reported since February 2025—a dramatic turnaround that experts and authorities credit to a series of low-cost, high-impact interventions. A joint effort by Delhi Traffic Police, the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), the Public Works Department (PWD), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) turned the tide.
Their approach? Data-driven and deeply human.
Investigations revealed that a sharp, unmarked right curve near the Iron Bridge—close to the Gandhi Nagar Police Booth—was a major hazard. There were no warnings, no rumble strips, and no protective barriers. Worse, a massive pillar from the Saharanpur-Dehradun flyover stood directly in the path of oncoming traffic, virtually invisible at night.
Small Fixes, Big Results
In response, the team rolled out a series of quick but effective safety upgrades:
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Iron grills to prevent dangerous pedestrian crossings
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Rumble strips to alert inattentive drivers
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Jersey barricades to restrict reckless U-turns
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Fluorescent paint, signage, and rumble strips around the central pillar to increase visibility
These seemingly minor adjustments have brought major relief.
“We saw every fatality not as a statistic, but as a life lost needlessly,” said Rajeev Kumar, DCP (New Delhi Range). “With CRRI’s guidance and the commitment of NHAI and PWD, we turned intent into action. The zero-fatality figure since February proves that proactive enforcement and basic engineering can save lives.”
A Model for Safer Urban Roads
The success of the Geeta Colony flyover transformation is being hailed as a blueprint for other accident-prone zones in Delhi and beyond. It shows that visionary collaboration, data analysis, and timely action—not massive budgets—are what truly make roads safer.
