NHAI Takes Action: 35 Illegal Cuts Closed on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway to Enhance Road Safety
In a significant move to improve traffic safety, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has closed 35 illegal cuts along the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. This action follows a comprehensive survey conducted jointly by the traffic police and the traffic engineering centre, aimed at reducing the high risk of accidents on this busy stretch.
Survey Reveals Alarming Number of Unauthorized Access Points
The survey identified a total of 49 illegal cuts on a nearly 43-kilometer section of NH-8, spanning from the Sirhaul border to the Kapriwas border within Gurgaon. These unauthorized access points were created without permission from authorities, often by damaging footpaths or central dividers, posing serious hazards to commuters.
Accident Statistics Highlight Urgent Need for Intervention
Official data underscores the critical nature of this issue. In the previous year, out of 1,118 reported accidents, 234 occurred on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, resulting in 127 fatalities. The year 2025 saw 474 deaths in road accidents across the region. More recently, in January of this year, eight people lost their lives in 15 accidents on this expressway, compared to eight deaths in 20 accidents during the same period last year.
Locations of Closed and Pending Cuts
The 35 cuts that have been successfully closed are situated at key locations, including near Triveni Dhaba Kapriwas, Balaji Vishno Hotel in Sidhrawali, Starex University, Samrat Hotel, RTO parking, Discovery Wine Shop, Jai Durga Hotel, Rathiwas cut, and Drive Thru. However, several illegal cuts remain to be addressed, such as those near German Cafe Hotel, the old U-turn at Sidhrawali, Ashok Leyland, Hotel Highway King, Shahid Amar Singh Public School, near the Rampura flyover entry, Indo Space cut, MBLM School cut, and opposite Mannat Hotel.
Authorities Urge Commuters to Prioritize Safety
DCP (Traffic) Rajesh Mohan emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "The purpose of the survey was to identify illegal cuts on the national highway to prevent accidents. Lives are precious, and commuters should avoid taking shortcuts or illegal cuts and instead use the correct road or passage, as a few minutes' drive ahead and following traffic rules will keep the road users safe." He added that most illegal cuts have been removed, with ongoing work to address the remaining ones.
Additional Safety Measures Implemented
In addition to closing illegal cuts, the traffic police identified areas requiring hazardous markings. Consequently, crash barriers and tyres painted in yellow and black have been installed at multiple points along the expressway. Hazard markings have also been added near toll plazas to enhance visibility and minimize collision risks, further bolstering road safety efforts.
