Regardless of an intensive crackdown on wrong-side driving throughout Gurugram this yr, the menace continues to say lives, stated visitors police. The early Wednesday morning crash on the Dwarka Expressway, which killed two males and left 4 others critically injured, has as soon as once more uncovered how simply visitors guidelines are flouted when enforcement is weak or absent.
In keeping with police, all six victims have been travelling in an auto-rickshaw that entered the principle carriageway of the expressway from the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway (NH-48) from the flawed course whereas heading in the direction of Sector 89. The automobile rammed a Nexon automobile head-on.
This was the second main crash on the Dwarka Expressway this yr as a consequence of wrong-side driving. On April 29 final yr, two individuals have been killed and 6 others severely injured when an e-rickshaw going the flawed method collided with a Kia Seltos.
Information from the Gurugram visitors police exhibits that 157,298 fines amounting to roughly ₹9.04 crores have been issued final yr for wrong-side driving. This yr, 155,127 violators have already been penalised roughly with ₹8.9 crore advantageous until October.
Visitors officers stated regardless of common enforcement drives, many commuters proceed to danger their lives, and people of others, merely to avoid wasting a couple of minutes by avoiding a correct U-turn or intersection.
“The violation will increase at night time as rigorous enforcement ends by 8pm, after our 12-hour shift,” stated a senior visitors police officer.
In keeping with him, wrong-side driving is most prevalent on the Dwarka Expressway, Sohna Street, and Delhi-Jaipur Expressway, the place quite a few arterial roads feed into the principle carriageway.
“The menace is absent on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway as no arterial roads from residential areas are linked to it,” he stated. “Commuters additionally keep away from wrong-side driving on the Southern and Northern Peripheral Roads as a consequence of fewer such connections. Even when violations happen there, they’re minimal.”
The issue, officers stated, is compounded on the Dwarka Expressway as a result of it connects a number of areas that have been villages till lately and have now remodeled into residential sectors. “Many commuters nonetheless assume driving in opposition to visitors on an empty stretch will save time, not realising how deadly it may be,” an officer stated.
A visitors official deployed on the expressway stated violations have been as soon as rampant on its floor roads. “Nevertheless, with strict enforcement at key entry and exit factors and the set up of greater than 24 surveillance and ANPR cameras at three areas on the elevated part earlier this yr, the menace has diminished,” he stated.
“Wednesday’s accident occurred as a result of the auto-rickshaw driver managed to evade patrol groups. He was drunk and doubtless making an attempt to take a short-cut to succeed in Sector 89, which led to the crash,” the officer added.
Deputy commissioner of police (visitors) Rajesh Kumar Mohan stated not less than 30 visitors personnel divided into 5 groups, every headed by a zonal officer, are deployed every day for enforcement from 8am to 8pm.
“They impose fines on violators and guarantee commuter security. After 8pm, the stretch is guarded by native police, together with patrol and emergency response autos,” he stated.
“There are a number of signages on the Dwarka Expressway warning commuters that slow-moving autos like auto-rickshaws or two-wheelers will not be allowed. Even then, if somebody knowingly decides to journey within the flawed course when police will not be round, what extra will be achieved?” he requested.
Mohan stated wrong-side driving can also be rampant on metropolis roads regardless of fixed crackdowns. “Auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, two-wheelers, and industrial automobile drivers are essentially the most frequent violators. Often, even native residents in automobiles are caught, although their numbers are smaller,” Mohan stated, including he’ll quickly write to all DCPs to make sure strict enforcement even at night time to keep away from such accidents additional as a consequence of wrong-side driving.
In keeping with him, such violations stem largely from a reckless mindset, sheer lack of civic sense and full disregard for security. “More often than not, it’s the driving force’s perspective — that nobody can cease them or that saving a couple of minutes is well worth the danger,” Mohan stated. “We’re always conducting consciousness programmes for auto-rickshaw and industrial drivers, residents, and company staff to focus on the hazards of such violations.”
Officers stated enforcement mixed with consciousness together with the particular marketing campaign named ‘Chalaan Nahi, Salaam Milega’ has helped cut back total fatalities. Gurugram recorded 1,024 accidents in 2024, leading to 478 deaths. Of those, 247 crashes occurred on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway, inflicting 150 deaths, and 39 on the Dwarka Expressway, resulting in 22 deaths.
Until September this yr, 810 crashes have been reported, by which 330 individuals have died. Of them, 181 accidents occurred on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway (91 deaths), and 35 on the Dwarka Expressway (17 deaths).
