Gurgaon's Udyog Vihar Access Road Descends into Daily Commuting Nightmare
Thousands of office-goers in Gurgaon are enduring a daily ordeal on their way to Udyog Vihar. The access road near the Sirhaul toll plaza has become increasingly chaotic. Commuters from Delhi and other parts of the city face significant challenges every morning and evening.
Damaged Road Surface Creates Bumpy, Uncomfortable Ride
The road surface near the toll plaza is badly damaged. Rough patches and potholes make for an extremely uncomfortable journey. Vehicles crawl through this stretch during peak hours. The situation becomes particularly difficult when traffic builds up.
Sushil Vats, a daily commuter to Udyog Vihar 3, shared his experience. He told TOI that taking the turn towards Udyog Vihar becomes very hard when queues spill back. The backlog of vehicles sometimes stretches right up to the turning point.
Jurisdictional Confusion Between NHAI and MCD
Despite being part of the national highway network, maintenance responsibility remains unclear. National Highways Authority of India officials stated that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi holds jurisdiction over the road surrounding the toll plaza.
NHAI officials explained that MCD collects green tax from commercial vehicles entering Delhi at this point. "MCD has to take care of that road. We will take up the matter with MCD," an NHAI official said.
Industry Representatives Flag Lack of Coordination
Praveen Yadav of Gurgaon Udyog Association highlighted the coordination gap between agencies. He pointed out that lakhs of rupees are collected daily at the toll plaza. Yet authorities cannot ensure basic road maintenance.
Yadav emphasized the need for clear action. "Either NHAI should repair this stretch or clearly ask MCD to get the work done," he said. He also noted that the left-most lane at the toll plaza is not motorable.
Recent Traffic Changes Worsen the Situation
The pressure on this access road increased in recent weeks. Traffic police converted some internal roads in Udyog Vihar into one-way stretches. This change funnels a larger number of vehicles through the Sirhaul toll plaza entry point.
The increased traffic volume exacerbates existing problems. Spillover queues from the toll plaza now regularly affect the Udyog Vihar turn. Motorists struggle to safely negotiate the turn when queues back up.
Temporary Fixes Fail to Provide Lasting Solutions
In the absence of permanent repairs, temporary measures are sometimes attempted. Traffic police or local commuters occasionally fill potholes with loose material. However, these fixes do not last. The road deteriorates again quickly.
The affected portion lies on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. It serves as a key entry route for those traveling towards Udyog Vihar phases 1, 2, and 3. Commuters continue to face this challenging situation daily with no permanent solution in sight.
