Gurgaon: After nearly 11 years of one-way traffic management, Vyapar Kendra Road and Galleria Market Road are set to revert to two-way traffic. GMDA has begun installing plastic divider bollards along Vyapar Kendra Road. The widening of both roads in New Gurgaon is almost complete, with finishing work underway.The proposed change is expected to reduce the need for motorists to take diversions and offer more direct connectivity. However, residents have raised concerns that restoring two-way traffic without adequate planning and enforcement could bring back congestion on roads that were converted to one-way stretches to ease traffic pressure.The roads serve Galleria Market, Sushant Arcade Market and Vyapar Kendra Road, besides catering to residents of Sushant Lok-I, spread across around 600 acres, and sectors 27, 28 and 43. Around 11 years ago, former deputy commissioner of police Bharti Arora introduced the one-way system on the two roads in view of increasing traffic and recurring jams. The arrangement improved traffic movement and provided relief to commuters. With the roads now widened, the authorities are preparing to restore movement in both directions.While two-way movement could improve connectivity for these neighbourhoods, roadside fruit vendors and other hawkers, along with encroachments, remain a concern. Residents fear that increased vehicle movement, coupled with roadside obstructions, could narrow the effective carriageway and create bottlenecks, particularly around busy market stretches. They said traffic management and control of encroachments would be crucial to ensuring that the change delivers the intended benefits.Municipal councillor from ward 22 Vikas Yadav said a traffic survey should be conducted before implementing the new arrangement to assess vehicle volumes and determine whether the widened roads can accommodate traffic in both directions. “People have been accustomed to the one-way system for 11 years. If roadside vendors and encroachments are not regulated, congestion could increase again,” he said.Yadav also raised concerns over the use of plastic divider bollards, saying they may not adequately prevent vehicles from entering the opposite lane if a driver loses control. Headlight glare from oncoming vehicles could also affect motorists at night. He called for a suitable divider and robust road safety measures before the change is implemented.General secretary of Sector 43 Residents Welfare Association Narendra Mehta suggested installing large concrete planters at short intervals along the centre of the roads. “Planting greenery in these planters would not only separate traffic moving in opposite directions but also improve the streetscape,” he said.Residents said the final traffic arrangement should take into account road capacity, market activity, pedestrian movement and accident risks. They stressed that road widening alone may not be sufficient to ensure smoother traffic unless it is accompanied by effective enforcement against encroachments and appropriate safety infrastructure.
