Nightly congestion plagues India’s widest Delhi-Meerut expressway

Every night, commuters traversing the Delhi-Meerut Expressway encounter a frustrating bottleneck: the supposed wide lanes of India’s widest expressway shrink due to a buildup of trucks and goods carriers near the UP Gate toll plaza at the Ghazipur border. 

Despite being touted as India’s widest expressway, the three-lane thoroughfare, accompanied by NH-9 boasting four lanes, experiences bottlenecks as trucks occupy a significant portion of the available lane width. This congestion witnessed between 9 pm and 11 pm, stems from the restrictions imposed on commercial vehicles entering Delhi during specific hours.

The nightly ordeal unfolds due to the prohibition on commercial goods vehicles’ entry into the capital from 7 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 11 pm. As a result, trucks arriving early tend to park along the expressway, awaiting entry clearance. 

Reports indicate that between 9 pm and 11 pm, Delhi-bound travellers contend with blocked paths and restricted driving space, hampering traffic flow. The line of trucks stretches along the flyover, extending up to the Khoda underpass, obstructing at least half of the available lanes

This practice, compounded by the lack of intervention from authorities, has become entrenched over months, exacerbating congestion and impeding traffic flow. Despite the queue of parked trucks dispersing by midnight, a fresh lineup forms at dawn, perpetuating the issue.

Truck associations acknowledge that truck parking contributes to congestion and jams on the expressway. While intentions to urge drivers to avoid the border during no-entry hours exist, challenges persist due to uncertainties like delays and route jams. However, jurisdictional issues complicate resolution efforts, with Ghaziabad police tasked with ensuring traffic flow on the affected stretch. Encroachments by vendors and auto stands further aggravate the situation.

NHAI project director Dheeraj Singh underscores the need for enforcement by traffic police, while Ghaziabad police’s Additional DCP (traffic) Virendra Kumar acknowledges the issue and pledges appropriate measures to alleviate congestion.

The plight of commuters underscores the pressing need for coordinated efforts from authorities to address truck congestion and encroachments, ensuring smoother travel experiences for all traversing the Delhi-Meerut Expressway during nighttime hours.