There seems to be no respite from the rains — and the massive traffic jams on Delhi-Gurgaon highway that come with it. But the bad news is: It’s only going to get worse from here.
As many as 23,317 new commercial vehicles, mainly taxis, have been registered in this financial year by the city’s road transport authority. That’s approximately 60 percent more from last year, according to an India Today report.
Authorities fear that this rise would burden the heavily congested road infrastructure of the city and will lead to further delay in commuters’ travel time.
The app-based taxi services offered by companies like Ola and Uber are also seen as a major reason behind this rise.
Suspended Infrastructural Projects
A number of suspended infrastructural projects such as the Dwarka Expressway, Southern Peripheral Road and the expansion of various city roads, including Palam Vihar and MG Road, make traffic jams worse. The commuters are left with just two options, Expressway and Sohna-Alwar road, which leads to massive rush.
Besides, a large number of vehicles entering the millennium city from Delhi, numbering roughly between 1.5 lakh and 2 lakh, add to the congestion.
Not too long ago, hundreds of commuters found themselves stranded on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway after heavy rains hit the Indian capital and the adjoining areas. The poor traffic mobility brought the city to a standstill.
This, of course, was followed by outrage on social media. Many commercial establishments and schools were also forced to shut down.
Travel Remains a Concern
The limited connectivity of the Delhi metro to Gurugram, the short-stretch covered by the Rapid Metro and little movement on the proposed pod taxi project, continue to be causes of concern.
The inefficiency of the public transport system has increased the dependence on private commercial vehicles. The increase in income per capita of Gurugram residents is also a factor.
The systemic failure of failed multi-level parking projects at Huda City Center metro among other places is also responsible for constraining the available space. As a result, the vehicles parked on the roads add to the trouble.
(Source: India Today)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)