Brakes slammed on Expressway

Gurgaon police have swung an unpleasant surprise on National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) by opening a crossing for vehicular traffic at Hero Honda Crossing on the ‘Signal-free’ access controlled Expressway, reports Sanjeev K. Ahuja.

If you love zooming on Gurgaon Expressway, prepare to apply brakes.

HT Image

Gurgaon police have swung an unpleasant surprise on National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) by opening a crossing for vehicular traffic at Hero Honda Crossing on the ‘Signal-free’ access controlled Expressway.

While local residents, who faced long detours for the want of underpasses, have hailed the move, the NHAI have termed it illegal.

The police said the decision would benefit a larger section of the local populace and avoid unrest brewing amongst them against the NHAI for not providing crossover facilities.

“We would have traffic signals and zebra crossings on Hero Honda Crossing in couple of days and another crossing near Narsingpur village would also be opened,” police commissioner S.S. Deswal said.

Following demands from residents of villages and HUDA sectors who had threatened to boycott the Lok Sabha polls, Gurgaon police opened Hero Honda crossing on Gurgaon Expressway between 7am-10am and 5pm-8pm.

However, the NHAI officials have called the move as illegal and violation of the NHAI Act. “Gurgaon police or any other state agency has no authority to open any crossing on the Gurgaon Expressway without the permission of NHAI.

This stretch between Delhi and Gurgaon is access-controlled and commuters pay toll for signal-free movement. We have informed NHAI headquarters as well as the Ministry of Highways & Surface Transport and it is now up them to take actions on this,” said a senior NHAI official who did not want to be quoted.

Deswal said no action could be called illegal if it was done in the larger interest and safety of the masses. “More than 100 people, half of them pedestrians, have been killed by speeding vehicles on this stretch. The traffic signals would continue to prevail on this stretch until NHAI provides adequate crossover facilities,” he said.