Policing the Roads

  • Barnali Dutta / FG
  • India
  • Apr 10, 2015

Photo: Prakhar Pandey


The sky may be the limit for the Millennium City, but matters on the ground are effectively choking its growth. Long lines of vehicles even during non-peak hours, parked SUVs blocking traffic, blaring horns and frayed tempers – it’s often a road to nowhere in Gurgaon.
It’s no wonder, therefore, that the Director General of Police, Haryana, Yash Pal Singal, has asked Gurgaon Police to tackle the traffic menace in the City on a war footing. Over the next few months, efforts will be made to unclog traffic flows at (five) key points in the City. But solving Gurgaon’s traffic problems also requires simultaneous actions from the civic administration, especially in the area of infrastructure modification and improvement. “Most traffic issues are connected with the status of roads and civic infrastructure,“ says Joint Police Commissioner (JCP) Bharti Arora, who is directing the actions on traffic. Ms Arora has outlined 38 steps that need to be taken by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon and HUDA.

The actions required of MCG include:

1) Setting up of traffic lights at ten points, including CRPF Chowk and Mata Mandir Chowk 

2) Repairing of the auto lane at Mahavir Chowk

3) Fixing of halogen lamps at several dark, unsafe areas

4) Repairing of roads and damaged central verges and railings 

5) Putting up of traffic sign boards on all roads and painting of zebra crossings at intersections 

6) Traffic booths at nine points

7) Completion of road widening and other works now under progress, especially at places like Atul Kataria Chowk  and Khandsa Chowk.


The actions required of HUDA include:

1) Road widening in Sectors, especially 53 and 56

2) Repairing of traffic signals

3) Repairing of damaged roads, especially from Khandsa Chowk to Basai Chowk, and near Nathupur Market

4) Putting up traffic umbrellas at crucial T-points  

5) Installing grills on central verges of important roads, especially near HUDA City Centre and Dronacharya Metro stations 

6) Setting up of foot overbridges on the roads connecting HUDA City Centre to Fortis, Unitech Business Centre and Max Hospital 

7) Putting up ‘No Parking/Tow-away Zone’ boards on MG Road 

8) Ensuring that towing cranes are constantly moving around in select areas.


One of the special features of Indian roads is the presence of all sorts of vendors on the pavements and roadsides. Gurgaon is no exception. These vendors are demanding halogen lamps, for helping them conduct better business after sundown and for the safety of themselves and commuters. Auto rickshaw drivers have other complaints and requirements. Raju, an auto rickshaw driver, says, “Driving on Gurgaon roads is fraught with dangers. You just cannot avoid potholes, which seem to come up anywhere, anytime; these are perilous - for the passengers, for me and for the vehicle. We need roads that we can safely drive on.” 

In a meeting that the Police authorities had with MCG officials, they detailed the problems and urged the officials to redress these as soon as possible. Ms Arora, JCP, adds,  “From our side we continue to take multiple actions. We have been undertaking a crusade against drunk driving for some time now, and are now targeting underage drivers. MCG and HUDA have to adopt a more proactive stance. Civic infrastructure needs persistent care and maintenance.” When FG spoke to some MCG officials about the issues, they were defensive. ”We have almost finished our work on the foot overbridge at Dundaheda and we are also looking into the requirement for halogen lamps. We have enough funds but these issues require time to resolve. We need to investigate, prepare tenders and get approvals, before we can start working,” an official says. Police sources, however, contest the MCG stance. “We agree that things do take time. But we shared the problems and requirements with them quite some time back. MCG and HUDA have had enough time to act,” says a police officer. “We are confident that the problems will be resolved soon,” the MCG official reassures. Famous last words….again? 

MCG has been trying to resolve issues – including something as basic as its role – ever since its birth 5 years ago; and HUDA has never felt itself accountable for Gurgaon’s civic maintenance and services.

 

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