Traffic jam: Commuters remain stranded for three hours on NH-8

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, May 22

Thousands of commuters stood stranded on the National Highway 8 or the Gurgaon Expressway for almost three hours in what appeared to be the longest jam in recent months.

Traffic started slowing down on various exists and as the peak office hours approached, the trickledown effect reached as far as Dhaula Kuan and the Delhi cantonment underpass.

The Delhi Police posted on its Facebook page that the traffic density on the NH-8 was due to the Gurgaon police, as it had reportedly barricaded the expressway to check lane driving.

Within few hours, social media, radio and blogs were full of comments ridiculing the Gurgaon police for sheer mismanagement.

The Gurgaon police, however, refuted the claims, saying, “There have been few stories appearing on digital media accusing the Gurgaon Traffic Police to the long jam on the NH-8 today. All these stories are incorrect.

The reason behind the jam was the NHAI, without issuing proper advisory, closed seven out of 11 lanes.

Upon receiving the information about the jam, the Gurgaon traffic police acted swiftly and removed the barricades put up by the NHAI.

The ACP Highway met the NHAI officials and has asked them to have a proper communication plan in place before doing undertaking such drives.”