Under-construction flyover halts traffic on Sohna Road

GURGAON: Local residents had hailed the decision when the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) had finally awarded the contract to build the flyover at Subhash Chowk on Sohna Road. Two months on, the residents are now complaining of inadequate planning and mismanagement by the firm constructing the flyover, which, the residents allege, has resulted in traffic snarls and chaotic traffic movement, leading to several accidents.
The flyover will cost Rs 30 crore and will take at least two years to complete.
Residents have complained that without any plans to channelize the movement of traffic, the contracting company has barricaded most of the area, leaving little room for vehicles to pass through. A number of school buses ply on the road, which makes the issue of road safety all the more important.
"After MG Road, it is Sohna Road which witnesses the movement of the highest number of vehicles. Before starting the project, the contracting company should have come up with a proper plan with clear-cut path and demarcation. During rush hours, the place witnesses traffic jams for more than 30 minutes. We have seen just a few policemen controlling the traffic. We need more traffic cops in the area," said V P Sajeevan, general secretary, Central Park 2 RWA.
Even the pitch near the demarcated area is worn out. Potholes and mounds of soil near the road make things worse.
"No slip roads have been demarcated for the traffic coming from Sector 29 to Sohna Road and Rajiv Chowk to South City-I. As a result, commuters have to wait for hours to pass through the road," said Atul Aggarwal, treasurer, Vipul Green, RWA.
Meanwhile, volunteers of the Road Safety Organization has complained that traffic police posted at Subhash Chowk are not issuing challans to the loaded tracks carrying construction material. On Monday afternoon, there was a heated argument between the traffic police and the volunteers of the Road Safety Organization over not issuing challans to loaded trucks entering the road after the no-entry period.
When the volunteers complained to the traffic police personnel why they were not issuing Chalan to the heavy loaded trucks? Surprisingly the traffic police posted at the spot retorted, "You volunteer better stop these truck if you want to issue Challan to these trucks".
"How can we in civilian dress stop these heavy loaded trucks? These are the duty of these traffic policeman posted there. We are only to monitor the work of traffic," said Tara Singh Yadav, a volunteer from Road Safety Organization.
A traffic cop on duty said they cannot do their work properly because of the all-pervading dust. "It's very tiring to stand on the dusty road and control traffic for hours on end. We had told the contracting company to put tar and use maximum area while demarcating the road, but they didn't pay heed," said Ravinder Kumar, a constable on duty.
Balraj Singh, junior engineer, HUDA engineering department, said, "While constructing a flyover, people will face some inconvenience. This is natural. We have already told the contactor to make adequate space for vehicles so that it can pass smoothly and there is no traffic jam."