Delhi-Gurugram traffic congestion worsens daily commute times

Delhi and Gurgaon have experienced severe traffic congestion, especially on the Dhaula Kuan-Gurgaon route. This stretch is a bottleneck for many commuters, including office workers and airport passengers. Because of frequent jams, some residents have opted to move to other areas. One commuter shared his frustration, saying his wife's commute took five hours daily. He even found it quicker to board a flight from Delhi to Mumbai than to reach the airport from Noida. He described the situation as constant chaos, not just during peak hours. Officials are aware of the problem. A recent meeting focused on reducing congestion, and the Dhaula Kuan-Gurgaon stretch was singled out for a potential pilot project. Many commuters have taken to social media to voice their concerns, calling for accountability and permanent solutions. Traffic reports indicate that around 500,000 vehicles use this route every day. A site visit showed that speeds drop from 70 km/h to just 20 km/h during rush hours. Poor road design at critical points, like Shankar Vihar and Hotel Lohia, contributes to the delays as vehicles merge and cross each other. The high volume of traffic, compounded by numerous routes leading to major destinations, worsens the situation. Experts point out that at the Dhaula Kuan interchange, vehicles from various directions converge into only three lanes. This makes the congestion even worse, particularly as four lanes narrow to three at Shankar Vihar.