Gurgaon Traffic Nightmare: Closed Median Cuts Trigger Safety Alarm on Dwarka Expressway Link Road
In Gurgaon, escalating traffic violations and severe congestion along the sectors 102 and 102A link road connecting to the Dwarka Expressway have ignited urgent road safety concerns among local residents. With all median cuts on this critical master road now sealed off, commuters are forced into lengthy detours, traveling all the way to the main interchange on the expressway just to execute a U-turn.
Daily Bottlenecks and Reckless Driving Escalate Risks
The closure has resulted in a daily bottleneck at an already overwhelmed junction, compounded by frequent instances of wrong-side driving as frustrated motorists seek shortcuts. This chaotic scenario is particularly alarming given the presence of schools on both sides of the road, where parents and children must navigate speeding traffic without the support of a foot overbridge.
Many pedestrians, including domestic workers and daily commuters, resort to perilous methods such as climbing over jersey barriers to cross the road, exposing themselves to fast-moving vehicles. Robin Gupta, a resident of Joyville, emphasized, "We are confronting serious safety issues due to the absence of a median cut along this 2 km stretch. The nearest U-turn is excessively far, compelling long and inconvenient detours."
Residents Voice Frustration Over Infrastructure Gaps
Abhishek Vatsa from Emaar Imperial Gardens highlighted that school children, working families, and support staff are among the worst affected by these infrastructure shortcomings. Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Adani Oyster Grande, recalled, "A median cut previously existed between B1 and B2 towers but was closed during road redevelopment. That cut provided easy access across the road. Now, people either drive on the wrong side along the link road or cross the median on foot. With vehicles moving at high speeds and no foot overbridge, the risk of accidents remains critically high."
Official Response and Future Actions
A GMDA official addressed the concerns, stating, "If the traffic police assess the requirement and recommend a median cut or signal, GMDA will act accordingly. Regarding the foot overbridge, whenever requests are received from residents or RWAs, feasibility is examined in coordination with the traffic police." This response underscores the need for collaborative efforts between authorities and the community to mitigate the escalating safety hazards.
The situation underscores broader issues in urban planning and traffic management in rapidly developing areas like Gurgaon, where infrastructure often lags behind population growth and vehicular density.
