Stray cattle take over Gurugram roads, residents fear for safety

Stray cattle continue to be one of the biggest issues plaguing Gurugram roads, accounting for 30 per cent of the city’s accidents each year. What was once a problem confined to rural areas has now spread to posh urban residential spaces, roads, highways and even expressways.

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‘Situation worsens at night’

My flat costs around Rs 15 crore, but every time I turn towards Golf Course Road, it feels like I’m on a village road. Cows are sitting everywhere, and the situation worsens at night. We’ve written to the authorities many a time and even approached the Samadhan Shivir, but nothing has changed. — Rupal Sodhi, a local entrepreneur

The Gurugram Traffic Police, along with road safety activists and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), have repeatedly written to the Municipal Corporations of Gurugram (MCG) and Manesar, but the problem is worsening by the day.

“Cattle is a major issue on many roads, causing a significant number of accidents. We have repeatedly asked the civic authorities to resolve this, but to no avail. We have provided them with details of problem areas on numerous occasions, but no action has been taken. The situation is even worse as you approach Manesar,” said Virender Vij, DCP, Traffic Police

A 2022 survey by the MCG estimated the number of stray cows on roads at 8,000. No fresh survey has been conducted since, but officials now estimate the number to be around 11,000. While the civic authorities ignored the issue for a long time, national attention was drawn to it after a viral video showed cows obstructing the premium Golf Course Road, which is home to many luxury residential societies, with flats costing up to Rs 100 crore.

“My flat costs around Rs 15 crore, but every time I turn towards Golf Course Road, it feels like I’m on a village road. Cows are sitting everywhere, and the situation worsens at night. We’ve written to the authorities many a time and even approached the Samadhan Shivir, but nothing has changed,” said Rupal Sodhi, a local entrepreneur.

Stray cows, often seen on key roads and highways like NH8, cause traffic slowdowns and lead to both minor and major accidents.

“Sector 21 is the worst affected, with 100 to 150 cattle on our roads. On average, about 15 calls are made daily to the MCG helpline, and over 70 complaints are still pending, but nothing is done. Cattle, along with potholes, have turned commuting into a nightmare, yet no one seems to care,” said Kundan Lal Sharma, general secretary of Sector 21 RWA. Residents of this sector blame the bovine menace on the nearby Mullahera village, where they claim locals rear cattle and leave them on the roads daily.

“The issue is rampant on almost all sector roads and Southern Peripheral Road. In many societies, residents, particularly senior citizens, are hesitant to step outside due to the constant presence of cattle near the gates. These animals are also at risk of being hit by trucks, but sadly, nobody seems to care,” said Praveen Malik from the United Association of New Gurugram.

The MCG claims to have dedicated teams that have transported around 3,000 cows to shelters since January 1. The MC also launched a helpline number (7290075866) to report stray animals, particularly cows, so they can be rescued and relocated to shelters.