Gurgaon: GMDA has decided to retain the existing one-way traffic arrangement on Galleria Road and Vyapar Kendra Road during the festive season. This comes after efforts to widen the corridor and introduce two-way traffic triggered concerns among traders and residents. The stretch connecting Galleria Market and Vyapar Kendra has followed a one-way loop system for the past 11 years, with the regular commuters having got accustomed to it.After recent attempts to introduce two-way movement on the stretch led to congestion and confusion, GMDA, in an advisory, said both roads would continue to operate under the existing one-way system to “ensure smooth and safe traffic movement”. Commuters have been advised to follow the designated directions, while any changes to the arrangement will be made in coordination with the traffic police and communicated to the public in advance.President of Galleria Market Association Neeraj Yadav said attempts to introduce two-way movement had not worked and could worsen congestion. “Problems will arise if they implement it. It is a major choking point here,” he said. Yadav said Vyapar Kendra Road had four to five traffic signals, which already caused frequent jams, leaving little scope for smooth two-way movement. He also pointed out that sections of the newly installed median dividers had been damaged.Market traders had earlier written to the Haryana chief minister opposing the proposed change. Yadav said even local traffic police personnel were initially unaware of the sudden trial. “One-way is good. People are used to it and it has become a habit,” he said, stressing that the existing arrangement should continue during the festive shopping rush.Residents, however, said the one-way system also had shortcomings. Sangeeta Nayyar, who lives near Galleria Market, said residents often had to take long detours, including driving around Supermart to reach nearby residential apartments, resulting in wasted fuel and additional traffic. However, she cautioned against introducing two-way movement without addressing basic infrastructure and enforcement gaps.“At the moment it is chaotic. If there are stationary cars and vendors are on the way, then you are heading for a problem,” she said, questioning the lack of public communication during the trial. “Where are the banners? Where is the clear instruction on how vehicles are supposed to go?” Nayyar highlighted illegal parking on both sides of the roads, which often reduces available space to a single narrow passage. She also flagged reckless driving by two-wheelers and quick-commerce delivery riders weaving between vehicles, calling the situation dangerous. She said the situation had become so disruptive that one of her neighbours “had sold their house and moved away”.Nayyar also questioned whether the proposed traffic changes had been completely put on hold, claiming contractors were still installing orange cones and flexible bollards along Galleria Road despite the advisory. She alleged that the push for two-way movement could also be linked to upcoming high-end residential projects in the area. She said any future transition should be phased and supported by clear signage, strict action against roadside vendors and illegal parking, traffic police deployment and consultation with local RWAs.“At the moment, it is a complete nightmare and pure chaos because nobody knows whether the two-way rule is officially implemented or still in process,” Dr Manish Samnani, a resident of Hamilton Court Road, added, “People are driving based on old habits or their own convenience and the plastic dividers are only half-installed with zero traffic personnel on-site to direct anyone. In long term, this plan will completely choke the road near The Shri Ram School, where one lane is already blocked by parked cars, leaving just a single, narrow lane for two-way traffic once school buses hit the road.”Khushboo Singhal, another resident, said, “I haven’t driven on that road since it was made two-way but my guests took 90 minutes yesterday to reach my place because of the traffic chaos. It is 10km. Usually, it takes 40-50 minutes. On a holiday, 30-35 minutes.”
