Traffic movement hit by construction at Rajiv Chowk-Signature tower crossing

Of the three major underpasses under various stages of construction as part of an ambitious project to decongest Gurgaon, the one at Rajiv Chowk was the first to commence in November last year.

Work has been on at the site and trenching has begun with one lane on each side of the chowk barricaded, thereby narrowing the main carriageways.

With major route diversions and barricades, commuters steer through the maze to reach their destinations. In spite of at least twelve traffic police officers posted on the spot, crossing the stretch during peak commuting hours takes over twenty minutes. Even during non-peak hours, it takes nearly ten minutes to navigate through this stretch.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) commissioned the construction of these three underpasses. Two of them will lead to diversion of traffic on Sohna road, towards Civil Lines and the other on Bakhtawar Singh Road will directly connect vehicles to the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.

Read I Gurgaon: Two accident-prone stretches to get road reflectors, markers

Major traffic diversions too have already been enforced. Commuters travelling on Sohna Road and heading towards the Civil Lines or New Delhi need to turn left and then take a U-turn from the road heading towards Manesar.

Those travelling from Civil Lines to Sohna Road, first need to take a left turn towards the service lane of Delhi-Gurgaon expressway before doing a U-turn from there.

Commuters travelling from Bakhtawar Singh Road and heading towards the Civil Lines have to get on to Sohna Road and make a U-turn near the Air Force station.

However, for commuters at Rajiv Chowk, the extended time to clear the stretch is proving to be their bane.

“There are no proper signage depicting the road diversions and for an outsider, passing through the crossing could be a harrowing experience. Similarly, traffic police officers and construction workers seem to lack coordination as often cranes or earthmovers are left on the main roads, leading to further snarls,” Sashank Srinivasan, resident of Nirvana Country, said.

At the Signature Tower crossing, construction of the underpass has commenced at two points. One near the service lane of NH-8 for the traffic moving from New Delhi towards Signature Tower and the other near an arterial road opposite Crown Plaza Hotel.

While the arterial road witnesses low-traffic volume, the barricading of the service lane has only compounded the woes of commuters.

Owing to the narrow space and heavy traffic flow because of those opting for the exit, traffic gridlock is a daily affair and during peak hours the gridlock stretches till IFFCO Chowk. It takes over 10-15 minutes to clear the stretch.