Lack of staff, 20+ problem points: Traffic management in a jam in Faridabad

The traffic situation in Faridabad has turned tricky. Several choking or problem points have emerged in the city, posing a challenge to the management of vehicular traffic in the industrial hub.

“The condition of the roads and improper signalling and regulation at many points have led to traffic congestion, with jams becoming a routine affair. Issues like waterlogging and inefficient drainage system have turned the situation from bad to worse,” said NGO Road Safety Organisation coordinator SK Sharma.

The death of two persons in a freak accident caused by waterlogging at an underpass last night had exposed the weakness in the system, he added, stating that it had also pointed out the shortcomings of the civic authorities, which needed to ensure proper and swift draining of stormwater.

According to sources in the district administration, the main choking points in the city include all three underpasses, the Neelam flyover, Badkhal Chowk, Hardware Chowk, Pyali Chowk, Masjid Chowk, Sainik Colony, NIT areas, Bata crossing, Ajronda crossing, Sector-28 bypass, Ballabgarh–Sohna crossing, Ambedkar Chowk, Ballabgarh Mandi, Mohna Road, Sector-55 road, Old Faridabad crossing, BPTP chowk and the service lanes of the national highway passing through the city.

Blaming various factors, including the shortage of the infrastructure and manpower resources in the administration, Sharma said the traffic police had around 140 regular cops, and around 400 Home Guard jawans to manage the traffic in the city, which had a population of over 18 lakh.

DCP (Traffic) Usha said traffic was being managed with the available staff and infrastructure.

The department regularly wrote to the civic authorities regarding the proper upkeep of roads and other infrastructure for the smooth regulation of traffic, she added.