Gadkari orders NHAI to take steps to fix traffic issue

With massive traffic jam on National Highway-8 caused by waterlogging in Gurgaon, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday instructed National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials to rush to spot and address the problems.

“Gadkari has asked the NHAI Chairman Raghav Chandra to immediately rush a team of senior officers to Gurgaon and personally monitor the situation. He has been asked to take all necessary steps in cooperation with the state authorities to ensure smooth flow of vehicles on NH (National Highway) eight,” an official of the Road Transport Ministry said in a statement.

The NHAI deputed high level team comprising 3 chief general managers, general managers, manager, contractor and consultant to resolve the water logging issue at this junction. The NHAI is improving this junction by constructing flyover on NH-8 and underpass on Khandsa – Badshahpur Road.

The reason for water stagnant on Badshahpur side of NH-8 was Badshahpur Nala, which is maintained by Haryana Urban Development Authority was breached on Thursday night due to heavy rain resulting flooding  on highway, NHAI statement said.

As Badshapur Nala crosses NH-8  and it becomes Khandsa Nala, which has very less water carrying capacity. Due to heavy rain Khandsa Nala also flooded and resulting heavy water stagnated on Hero Honda Chowk, the statement said.

To drain out water from junction, the NHAI installed 7 heavy duty pumps and over 100 labourers were also job with number of machineries, the NHAI said. 

To make permanent arrangement to prevent repeat of Thursday situation, the NHAI in association with HUDA, will construct Badshahpur drain and its subsequent link to Khandsa drain which are outfall drain of this intersection. Once these outfall drains are constructed the issue of rainwater stagnation will be resolved, the NHAI said.

An NHAI official said, during peak hours, 15,000 cars pass through Iffco Chowk, an intersection on MG Road and the expressway. Besides, high number of pedestrian trying to cross the junction.  An unauthorised market and an incomplete bus stand that seems to have been abandoned by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon also added to the problems, said the official.