Gurgaon traffic police identify five accident-prone areas

The Gurgaon traffic police have identified five accident-prone areas in the city and have analysed the factors causing fatal accidents.

Updated on: Jun 18, 2015, 09:48:30 IST

Hindustan Times | By Leena Dhankhar, Gurgaon

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Gurgaon traffic police have identified five accident-prone areas in the city and have analysed the factors causing fatal accidents.

Traffic-jam-near-Signature-tower-in-Gurgaon-during-road-safety-week-HT-Photo-Manoj-Kumar

According to the survey conducted last week, maximum number of accidents has taken place at the junction outside the Huda City Centre Metro station, Signature Tower, Rajiv Chowk, Gurgaon-Faridabad road and Bilaspur.

“Faulty road engineering and speeding were the major causes behind the high accident rate at these areas,” said Bharti Arora, joint commissioner (traffic), Gurgaon.

The survey was conducted by a team comprising officials of the Gurgaon traffic police, road safety officers and members of non-profit organisation Embarq India. They analysed the behaviour of two-wheelers and pedestrians. The final report was submitted to the Gurgaon traffic police.

Traffic police records stated that 400 accidents took place between January 1, 2011 and June 15, 2011. During the same period this year, the number reached 500 i.e. a 20% jump.

Experts have attributed this trend to poor urban planning and the city’s infrastructure unable to cope with the rapid expansion of Gurgaon. The roads in Gurgaon are a classic example of how lack of road engineering and foresight by authorities has led to chaos.

The traffic police have observed that most deaths reported in Gurgaon are because of road accidents.

Over 400 people have been killed every year on Gurgaon roads in the last four years. This year, 176 deaths have been reported so far.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of non fatal accidents too - 651 in 2013, 776 in 2014 and 300 till June 2015. Lack of footpaths, cycle tracks and foot over bridges has also led to a 20% hike in accidents involving pedestrians.

“Cities should be planned for all, including and marginalised communities. Low income housing, mixed-use development, high-quality affordable mass transit and regulation around rented housing and gated communities so that plots are porous and accessible, are some key issues that need to be addressed immediately,” said Sarika Panda Bhatt, project manager, WRI Embarq -India.

Cities need to develop mechanisms that encourage safe and vibrant public spaces and facilitate the interaction and integration between various sections of society. Raahgiri Day allows this as it provides a platform for people from all classes of the society to enjoy public spaces.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More