Gurgaon Remains Haryana's Stray Cattle Capital Despite Intensive Drives
Official state data reveals that Gurgaon continues to hold the dubious distinction of having the highest number of stray cattle among all municipalities in Haryana. As of January 1, 2026, a staggering 6,153 animals were still roaming the city's roads, despite large-scale efforts to capture and relocate them to designated cow shelters.
Massive Catch Numbers Fail to Solve the Problem
Between August 2024 and December 2025, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) managed to catch 5,387 stray cattle. However, this substantial effort has not been enough to significantly reduce the overall population, with Gurgaon maintaining the largest remaining stray cattle count in the state. The city operates two cow shelters specifically for this purpose, but the challenge persists.
Weak Enforcement and Limited Penal Action
During the same period, authorities issued a mere 24 challans and collected approximately Rs 2.78 lakh in fines, highlighting the limited penal action taken against cattle owners. Many of the stray animals are owned by dairy farms, with owners often leaving their cattle on the streets during the day and retrieving them in the evening. This practice continues largely unchecked due to weak enforcement measures.
Statewide Challenge and Projected Timelines
Official projections indicate that Gurgaon is not expected to be free of stray cattle until at least December 31, 2026, requiring a longer timeline than several smaller municipalities that have set deadlines for March or June of that year. Across Haryana, despite catching nearly 49,507 stray cattle in the past 17 months, most urban local bodies remain far from eliminating the problem. As of January 1, 2026, 19,206 stray animals were still on roads statewide, with only eight municipalities declared stray cattle-free: Gannaur, Kharkhoda, Gohana, Yamunanagar, Radaur, Sadhaura, Nissing, and Tarori.
Other Cities Also Struggle with High Numbers
Other major cities in Haryana continue to report significant stray cattle populations. Faridabad has around 1,000 animals, while Hisar records approximately 2,000. In Manesar, about 2,000 stray cattle roam freely, yet no challans have been issued to owners, exemplifying the widespread enforcement gap.
Traffic Hazards and Safety Concerns
Stray cattle have long been cited as a major traffic hazard and sanitation issue in Gurgaon, particularly on arterial roads and near markets. The animals have caused fatal accidents in the city, creating dangerous conditions for commuters. Ankit Kumar, a Faridabad resident, shared his experience: "I commute to work daily and have had several close calls on the Gurgaon–Faridabad road when stray cows suddenly wander onto the roadway. It's becoming increasingly dangerous for commuters."
Recent Initiatives and Official Response
In December 2025, MCG launched a comprehensive campaign to remove stray cattle from city roads, issuing stern warnings that dairy operators should not leave their animals on streets. The campaign includes provisions for filing FIRs and imposing fines on violators. A senior MCG official stated: "We hired two agencies recently to catch stray cattle and shift them to shelters. While the target was set to become a stray cattle-free city by this year-end, we will work on a war footing to achieve the result within a few months."
Resident Concerns and Future Outlook
Residents express skepticism about the effectiveness of current measures, arguing that unless accountability measures against owners are strengthened alongside catching operations, Gurgaon's goal of becoming stray cattle-free may remain more of a target on paper than an imminent reality. The latest data suggests that removal drives alone are insufficient to solve the problem, as enforcement against owners remains weak, allowing cattle to return to roads repeatedly.
The situation underscores a broader challenge in urban governance, where civic bodies are catching animals and shifting them to shelters, but the lack of robust penalties and consistent monitoring enables the cycle to continue. As Gurgaon and other Haryana municipalities grapple with this issue, the need for a multi-pronged approach combining relocation, enforcement, and owner accountability becomes increasingly clear.
