With no clear signages,safety still a concern

DSC Ltd said: “As a private concessionaire,we do not have the right to fine the vehicles. We have requested the authorities concerned (police and local administration) to consider the same. We have also written to NHAI to allow us to charge at least double the amount from non-tagged vehicles entering the tag lanes to discourage them.” NHAI sources have confirmed that the legal cell of the highway regulator has turned down the request.

Newsline found: A negligible number of marshals stationed at entry points to prevent two-wheelers and slow-moving vehicles from entering the main carriageway.

The committee had directed the concessionaire to install signboards with variable information facility at regular intervals for commuters.

DSC Ltd said: “Eight variable messaging services systems have been installed on the Expressway. The traffic police have asked us to display the messages. We’ll take into account the suggestion of displaying emergency numbers.”

Newsline found: The eight variable messaging systems installed (two in Delhi and six in Gurgaon) displayed messages like “Lane driving is sane driving” and “No-adherence to rules will attract penalty” and not relevant information like emergency numbers,positioning of emergency services like ambulances or location of traffic jams,among others.

Asked why the emergency numbers were not properly displayed on the 27.5-km stretch,DSC Ltd said that they had just got a dedicated number — 1800 103 1700 — from service providers and would soon install boards at the toll plazas and certain other locations to inform commuters.

None of the 24 SOS booths were functional. According to DSC Ltd: “The major problem we face in these booths is that of theft. Locals steal the batteries. We’ll soon replace the old booths and install theft-proof boxes.

The committee had asked NHAI to coordinate with various agencies to pump out stagnant water from the service road near Hero Honda Chowk.

DSC Ltd said: “Two sludge pumps have been installed and are functional as per the instruction of the State Pollution Control Board. The sludge pumps,which have a capacity of sucking 36 litres per second,work round the clock to suck water from the drains and channel it into the main outlet of HUDA. The rectification of sewerage near the Hero Honda plant,however,is under the jurisdiction of HUDA.”

Drawing a comparison between Delhi and Gurgaon,the official said: “There are at least 15 villages on both sides of the Expressway after one crosses Rajiv Chowk (towards Kherki Daula). Lack of a proper drainage system in the area leads to overflow of sewage on the main service road and results in flooding along the main carriageway. If we look at Delhi,the culverts are open and,therefore,water does not stagnate. In Gurgaon,all the culverts are either choked or the inlet is blocked which leaves no outlet for the water.”

Newsline found: The service lane at Hero Honda Chowk is still submerged in water rendering it useless for commuters. Traffic moving to the main carriageway from the wrong side is also a norm. The 125 mm of rainfall that Delhi-NCR received last Monday had flooded the entire carriageway near Hero Honda Chowk and thrown traffic out of gear for close to eight hours.

The concessionaire was asked to install CCTV cameras and speed sensors on the Expressway to check accidents and criminal activity.

DSC Ltd said: “We are eager to provide CCTV cameras and speed sensors on the Expressway as a security measure. These features,however,were not in the original scope of work prescribed by the NHAI. We look forward to receiving a notification from the NHAI so that additional security features can be implemented on the Expressway.”

Newsline: There were no CCTV cameras or speed sensors on the entire stretch.

The concessionaire was asked to adopt more sign norms during maintenance and upkeep. The committee had mentioned that road and caution boards should be put up in advance so that the commuters do not face any problems.

DSC Ltd said: “The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway has more than 1,400 signages along its entire length,making it the most densely-populated signage road in the country. The signages include 114 full overhead and Cantilever signs,8 variable messaging signs,more than 1,000 cautionary and mandatory signages and more than 300 destination signages.”

Newsline found: There were at least four points on the stretch between the two toll plazas where maintenance work was in progress. The warning signals were not clear.

Meanwhile,the traffic police in Gurgaon have maintained that they regularly issue challans to those caught violating rules on the Expressway.

“We have a dedicated highway patrol team consisting of PCR vans and homeguards. We coordinate with our Delhi counterparts as and when required. We issue as many as 400 to 450 challans every month for drunk driving,speeding,tinting,among others,” said DCP Traffic S K Gupta.

When asked what action is taken against those violating the rules and forcing their way into the tag lanes,the DCP Gupta said: “The private company charges for its service. They should manage the tag lanes,we are ready to coordinate. The best way out is a monetary penalty to discourage traffic offenders.”

Report: Tanushree Roy Chowdhury

Photos: Manoj Kumar