Gurgaon's Jersey Barriers: From Safety Features to Road Hazards
In Gurgaon, the very structures designed to enhance road safety—jersey barriers meant to divide lanes, streamline traffic flow, and prevent dangerous crossovers—have ironically transformed into significant hazards for motorists and pedestrians alike. These concrete installations, positioned by authorities on key roads across the city, now pose serious risks that could lead to severe or even fatal accidents, particularly during the dense fog that blankets the region in winter months.
Visible Dangers and Lack of Maintenance
Despite efforts by local authorities and traffic police to install reflectors at several vulnerable points to improve visibility in foggy and poorly lit conditions, numerous jersey barriers remain devoid of reflective tapes or any markers. This deficiency severely compromises their effectiveness during low-visibility periods. In multiple locations across Gurgaon, the barriers are visibly damaged, with steel rods protruding menacingly from broken concrete. Shattered pieces of these barriers can be found scattered near roadways, further escalating risks for all road users.
The situation on Hamilton Court Road, immediately after taking a left turn from IFFCO Chowk metro station, exemplifies the severity of the problem. Here, several barriers are in a deplorable state, with exposed steel rods and debris left unattended on the road surface. The gaps between these damaged barriers also create dangerous passages for pedestrians attempting to cross, compounded by broken concrete fragments littering the area.
Resident Concerns and Official Responses
Bhawna Sharma, a local resident, voiced her apprehensions, stating, "These jersey barriers have remained in this hazardous condition for an extended period. I exercise extreme caution when navigating this area due to the protruding iron rods and precariously holding barrier sections. However, individuals unfamiliar with this road could easily sustain injuries. Authorities should consider replacing concrete barriers with plastic alternatives or, at minimum, ensure consistent and proper maintenance."
Following directives from the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) for a traffic police survey along the 9km stretch of MG Road, findings underscored an urgent need to install spring posts ahead of jersey barriers near Sukhrali village to mitigate potential accident impacts. A recent inspection by a TOI team revealed that jersey barriers at the beginning of Sukhrali on MG Road lacked reflective tapes or any reflectors, and were also missing the recommended spring posts, despite the area's accident-prone reputation.
A traffic police official commented, "We have installed reflectors on nearly all jersey barriers or at hazardous points throughout Gurgaon to enhance visibility and assist drivers in clearly identifying obstructions during night-time or foggy conditions. Crash barriers are also being implemented to reduce fatalities."
Systemic Challenges and Recent Interventions
Jai Singh, ACP (West-1), emphasized that while authorities are striving to prevent collisions, motorists must also drive with greater caution. He noted, "Authorities are making their best efforts to prevent collisions, but motorists must drive carefully." A GMDA official highlighted ongoing maintenance challenges, explaining that these installations frequently get shifted or damaged during road brushing and vehicle impacts. The official added, "Jersey barriers are primarily used where median width is limited and permanent barriers are necessary for traffic channelization. Flexible spring bollards often fail to withstand vehicle overruns, leading to recurring replacement costs. Moreover, motorists sometimes override them to engage in wrong-side driving or illegal U-turns."
In a proactive move, traffic police recently addressed safety at critical locations. On Monday, under the supervision of ACP highways Satyapal Yadav, traffic inspector Mahabir and personnel removed damaged barricades at the MCD toll plaza on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway's Sirhaul border. The team installed 20 new jersey barricades, applying reflective tape to each and positioning crash tyre barricades to bolster road safety effectiveness, with considerations for public safety and VVIP movement.
Accident Statistics and Infrastructure Imperatives
Police stated that the primary objectives of these barricades are to provide better driver visibility during fog and nighttime, control vehicle speeds, and prevent potential accidents. Officials affirmed that similar safety measures will continue at other locations. According to official data, Gurgaon witnessed 474 fatalities in 1,118 road accidents last year, while 2024 has recorded 478 deaths in 1,024 accidents so far. Authorities note that accident numbers typically peak during winter months, underscoring an urgent need for safer, better-maintained road infrastructure to protect lives and enhance urban mobility.
