Motorists caught in green tax and festival shopping pincers

Several parts of Gurgaon, including the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, witnessed heavy traffic through the day on Monday with MCD collecting green tax at Delhi-Gurgaon border and shoppers thronging roads for last-minute Diwali shopping.

The collection of newly-imposed “Environmental Compensation Charge” which led to a nearly 10-km long traffic jam on the National Highway-8 from MCD toll plaza to Rajiv Chowk in Gurgaon in the early hours of Saturday created a jam-like situation on Monday morning as well. “It was better on Monday morning compared to what happened on Saturday. Still the traffic was piled up as we were required to collect two taxes from each trucker and check documents for those exempted,” said toll-attendant Sanjay. However, the situation improved during the day as the entry of commercial vehicles in Delhi remains banned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The situation may worsen on Tuesday morning as the traffic flow of trucks increases on Monday night,” said Sanjay.

Besides the toll collection, the festive rush of shoppers doing last-minute shopping also increased the vehicular traffic on the road leading to traffic snarls at several parts of the city. “I had planned to buy some jewellery on the occasion of Dhanteras and had gone out with my husband in the afternoon. The traffic on the roads was more than usual. Usually it takes 15 minutes to reach Gold Souk from my Sector 30 house, but today it took me double the time,” said Nisha Hooda, a teacher.

Another motorist Mohit Sharma said that the waiting time at almost all the traffic signals had increased two-three times. “I had to wait more than usual at all traffic signals today. The traffic was heavy at HUDA City Centre, Signature Tower and near Paras Hospital. It might continue to be like this tomorrow as well with people coming out on the roads for last-minute shopping,” said Mr. Sharma.

DCP (Traffic) Balbir Singh said that heavy traffic jam was reported from areas in Old Gurgaon as well. “The traffic situation in Old Gurgaon was worse than in new Gurgaon. Heavy traffic was reported in Sadar Bazar. Also an accident near IFFCO Chowk in the morning led to traffic snarls, but the situation normalised after the vehicles involved in accident were towed away.