For thousands of daily commuters in Gurgaon, the journey along the crucial Old Delhi-Gurgaon Road has transformed into a daily test of patience and endurance. The specific stretch between Atul Kataria Chowk and Sushil Aima Marg has seen its condition deteriorate sharply over the past two years, leading to relentless traffic snarls and significant delays that plague residents throughout the day.
A Perfect Storm of Civic Neglect
This vital artery, connecting key residential sectors like 21 and 22 to nearby industrial zones, now moves at a crawl during peak hours. Commuters and locals unanimously point to a combination of poor planning, haphazard execution of civic works, and a glaring absence of traffic regulation as the root causes. The road surface itself is a patchwork of open cuts and temporary repairs, resulting in an uneven, hazardous drive.
"The road is riddled with potholes, and the quick-fix repairs simply don't hold up. Vehicles are forced to come to a complete stop at multiple points every single day," explained Neeraj Jain, a frustrated resident of Sector 22. This infrastructure failure is compounded by the unregulated movement of e-rickshaws, which residents accuse of driving on the wrong side, cutting across lanes arbitrarily, and operating without any fear of enforcement. "There is no regulation at all," Jain emphasized.
Encroachments and Safety Hazards Worsen the Crisis
The chaos is further amplified by illegal encroachments lining both sides of the road, which have drastically reduced its usable width. "The authorities seem blind to this issue. These encroachments have left very little space for any smooth movement of traffic," said Madhur Sharma, who lives in Sector 21. The problem of narrowed roads is exacerbated by the indiscriminate parking of trucks and vehicles associated with used-car dealerships along the roadside.
Pedestrians find themselves among the worst affected, as large portions of the road lack proper footpaths or any dedicated safe walking space. Ongoing infrastructure projects have also raised serious safety alarms. A particularly dangerous spot is near the Air Force Station, where a dug-up section was reportedly left unattended with debris scattered on the road. Additionally, poor barricading and bent iron fencing on the central divider have significantly increased the risk of accidents, especially for two-wheeler riders.
Official Response and Future Plans
When confronted with these persistent issues, a GMDA (Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority) official stated that the authority is in the process of engaging a consultant. This consultant will be tasked with planning the upgradation of the Old Delhi-Gurgaon Road and also exploring the possibility of an elevated corridor on this troublesome stretch. "The agency has also been instructed to strictly adhere to safety norms and ensure proper barricading at the ongoing drain construction site," the official added.
However, for the daily commuters enduring this gridlock, the promise of future plans offers little immediate relief. The collective demand is for swift, effective action to address the crumbling infrastructure, rampant encroachments, and complete lack of traffic discipline that have made this key route a commuter's nightmare.
