Agencies plan measures to decongest Iffco Chowk

Gurugram: The district road safety committee will conduct a traffic trial at the Iffco Chowk on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway next week to assess the feasibility decongestion plans on the junction and make it safer for commuters, said officials on Monday.

Officials discussed the possibility of conducting a trial at IFFCO Chowk last Friday, during the district road safety committee meeting.

The draft plan for the traffic trial has various aspects. The first is on creating dedicated waiting, dropping, and passenger pick-up points around 30-40 metres before and after the junction for buses, autorickshaws, e-rickshaws, and cabs.

Most state roadways buses bound for Rajasthan stop at IFFCO Chowk. Similarly, the junction is also a bus stop for Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) and Haryana Roadways buses.

“Without any fixed dropping or waiting points, buses, autos, cabs stop at the junction randomly that leads to heavy congestion. The district road safety committee has shortlisted various points, slightly away from the junction for setting up waiting areas, pick-up and drop-off points for the various modes of public transport,” said Ishan Gogoi, senior research associate at Gurugram Vision Zero (GVZ).

GVZ is a road safety programme of the district administration.

Officials further said that the trial will also focus on checking the speed of vehicles, especially on the MDI Chowk-MG Road Metro station carriageway by establishing speed calming measures such as speed breakers and rumble strips, as well as erecting a traffic signal just before IFFCO Chowk to slow down vehicles.

Another traffic signal will also be installed around 100 metres ahead of the MG Road Metro station on the IFFCO Chowk-MDI Chowk carriageway, as part of the plan, said traffic police officials.

According to GVZ data, there have been 33 road fatalities at the junction between 2017 and 2021, more than 90% of whom were pedestrians.

“There are two foot overbridges at IFFCO Chowk but these are located much further than the point where pedestrians usually cross the junction,” said Gogoi.

Gogoi said that pedestrians instead cross the junction from a gap in the median fence against fast moving traffic.

“Our plan is to remove a portion of the median fencing and create a proper opening through which pedestrians can cross. The traffic signals will give ample time for pedestrians to cross the junction safely,” said Gogoi.

Another plan for the trial is to align the width of the service lanes at the junction, especially when heading towards the U-turn flyover.

The district road safety committee comprising representatives from Gurugram traffic police, GVZ, district administration, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as well as auto union members will inspect the junction on Friday and finalise details for the trial.

Officials said that tentatively the trial is planned to begin on August 5.

“On Friday, all concerned members of the road safety committee will visit IFFCO Chowk and finalise plans for the trial. Our marshals will be deputed on ground for assisting in the implementation of the trial and for guiding commuters and pedestrians once it is enforced,” said Ravinder Singh Tomar, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Gurugram police.

The inspection for the traffic plan was originally planned for Monday evening but due to authorities being caught up by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s visit, it was postponed to Friday at the last moment, said sources.