Signals, markings not ready, Vyapar Kendra road in Gurgaon chokes as motorists shift to two-way traffic

Gurgaon: Motorists have started using Vyapar Kendra road in both directions despite the stretch not being officially opened to two-way traffic, leading to confusion and congestion over the past few days. Median bollards are still being installed and traffic signals are being modified to accommodate the proposed change.GMDA said the road was still meant to operate as a one-way stretch and that two-way movement would begin only after the remaining infrastructure work was completed and traffic police formally implemented the change.“The median installation and other finishing work are underway. The traffic signals were originally installed according to the one-way arrangement and are now being modified to regulate traffic in both directions. Once the infrastructure is ready, we will inform the traffic police, who will implement the revised two-way movement. Until then, the existing one-way system is supposed to remain in force,” a GMDA official said.The remaining work includes installing flexible spring bollards along the median, thermoplastic road markings and other road safety features, the official added.However, motorists have already begun travelling in both directions, creating conflict points particularly near the market and adjoining residential areas. Residents said a journey of less than 2km was taking up to 30 minutes, compared with two to three minutes earlier. They added that the absence of traffic personnel had worsened the confusion.“The situation has become particularly difficult over the past few days. There is no traffic police personnel on the ground to monitor the situation or manage the movement of vehicles. Commuters are left to figure out which side to take, and this is leading to confusion and congestion,” said Veenu Pasricha, a resident of Sushant Lok-1.Pasricha said the dividers had narrowed the carriageway at the beginning of the stretch, forcing vehicles into two lanes and creating a bottleneck. Vehicles entering or exiting Vyapar Kendra market and those travelling towards Sushant Lok also have to navigate the same stretch, increasing the risk of traffic conflicts.“There is no proper arrangement for vehicles entering the residential areas or the market, or for those exiting the market and joining the main road. There are no clearly defined cuts or designated turning points to guide motorists. As a result, vehicles bunch up at the same point, and people are unsure which direction to take,” Pasricha said.Residents called for better coordination between GMDA and traffic police, clearly marked entry and exit points, action against encroachments and deployment of traffic personnel at key junctions.Sudhir Sachdeva, another resident, said roadside vendors and weak enforcement of traffic rules had compounded the problem. He added that pedestrians had limited access to the footpaths constructed along the stretch.“Traffic congestion has increased after the road was made two-way, even when there is no formal implementation. When you put the bollards, people start using it as a two-way road. There should be proper information displays on the road to avoid confusion. At the same time, vendors occupy space along the road. The authorities must first enforce the rules strictly and ensure that vendors do not obstruct traffic,” Sachdeva said.A similar situation prevails on Galleria Market road, where roadside parking and encroachments have reduced the usable carriageway. Residents fear congestion could worsen during peak hours if two-way traffic is allowed before these issues are not addressed.Narender Mehta, general secretary of the Sector 43 RWA, raised concerns over the use of flexible plastic posts along the central median, saying they might not provide adequate protection against vehicles crossing into the opposite lane.“A central verge should provide effective physical and visual separation between traffic moving in opposite directions and help reduce the risk of head-on collisions. Given the instances of overspeeding, reckless overtaking and drunk driving, particularly at night, flexible posts may not offer adequate protection if a vehicle crosses into the opposite lane. The design needs to be carefully reviewed to ensure commuter safety,” Mehta said.GMDA began revamping Galleria Market road and Vyapar Kendra road in 2024 to facilitate the restoration of two-way traffic. The parallel stretches had operated as one-way roads for around 11 years, with the arrangement introduced to ease congestion.The redevelopment included widening and strengthening the roads, improving footpaths, developing cycle tracks and landscaping. The project was scheduled for completion within 12 months but missed several deadlines.GMDA spent around Rs 21.7 crore on the revamp of Galleria Market road and Rs 22.4 crore on Vyapar Kendra road, taking the combined project cost to approximately Rs 44.1 crore.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Gurgaon | Silver Rate in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Petrol Price in Gurgaon | Diesel Price in Gurgaon | CNG Price in Gurgaon | LPG Price in GurgaonStay updated with the latest Gurgaon news. Download the TOI App.