Gurgaon: A journey of a few kilometres towards Delhi turned into an hours long ordeal at Sirhaul border on Sunday as police checks for vehicles barred under the capital’s new pollution curbs brought the Delhi-bound carriageway of the expressway to a near standstill.Cars, buses and two-wheelers were packed into long queues stretching from IFFCO Chowk, with commuters saying they remained stuck at the same spot for 40 minutes to over two hours, barely moving a few hundred metres.The jam was most severe on the carriageway leading to the capital, while traffic in the opposite direction flowed relatively smoothly. Buses packed with passengers were caught in the gridlock. Two-wheeler riders, usually able to weave through slow-moving traffic, found little room to manoeuvre. Some commuters eventually abandoned their cabs and walked towards Udyog Vihar and Sirhaul toll plaza.The disruption affected everyone – from those travelling to attend INDIA bloc’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ rally at Ramlila Maidan to others headed for work, hotels or home. Buses carrying rally supporters, some displaying posters of Rahul Gandhi, were also stuck in the queue.The scale of the congestion raised questions about how the checks would work on a weekday. If the enforcement drive caused such disruption on a Sunday, when regular office traffic was relatively light, Monday’s rush could put even greater pressure on the border.Thousands of commuters use this route to enter Delhi every day. Even a brief halt at the checking points can cause queues to build up over a long stretch.Police had deployed a large force near Sirhaul, including several ACPs, traffic inspectors and crime branch teams. Multiple barricades were put up on the Gurgaon side to regulate vehicles entering Delhi. Personnel stopped motorists to check registration papers, emission standards and other documents.But commuters complained that the process was holding up even vehicles that did not fall under the restricted categories. The checks led to heated exchanges between motorists and police. Sukhbir Tanwar, Congress spokesperson in Haryana, who was stranded with supporters, was seen arguing with senior officers. He alleged that the barricades were preventing people from reaching the rally.“As Rahul Gandhi is leading the protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi, cops have deliberately put up barricades and are not allowing us to proceed. We have been stranded for over two hours. They are trying to kill democracy,” Tanwar told TOI.He said the buses and vehicles carrying rally participants were BS-VI compliant and that organisers had taken care to ensure they met the prescribed emission standards. “People have come from different states to join this fight for democracy. But they have been tactfully stopped,” he alleged.The delay was no less frustrating for commuters with no connection to the rally.Ramnath Kumar Yadav, a Bhondsi resident heading to Radisson Hotel, said he was stuck for nearly an hour after crossing the Udyog Vihar underpass. His destination was only a few metres away, but a queue of buses ahead of his car left him unable to move.“My vehicle has been stuck at one spot for over 40 minutes. I needed to take a left turn towards Radisson Hotel, which is barely a few metres away, but I cannot get through. Several buses are ahead of me and there is no one to help. I don’t even know why traffic has come to a halt. This is sheer harassment,” he said.Namita, a Delhi resident who had travelled to Gurgaon for official work, said she had not expected the return journey to be so difficult. “I came here for work and had no idea that getting home would turn into such a trauma. Political rallies should be organised without putting ordinary people through this. Traffic cops should have cleared the congestion quickly, but commuters are stuck in this monster jam for no fault of theirs,” she added.An earthmover stationed near the toll plaza further ate into the available road space. Its operator told TOI that work was underway to install CCTV cameras at the plaza and had been continuing for the past few days.The checking drive was part of preparations for Delhi’s new restrictions, which came into force on Nov 1 to curb air pollution. Vehicles registered outside Delhi and below BS-VI emission standards are barred from entering the capital, subject to specified exemptions. Police teams were deployed at five major entry points — Aya Nagar, Gwal Pahari, Sirhaul toll, Bajghera and Kapashera — to check compliance.Satyapal Yadav, ACP (highways) in Gurgaon, said the drive began on Sunday to familiarise motorists with the restrictions and ensure compliance. “People were informed well in advance about Delhi’s restrictions to control air pollution. Since it was a Sunday, we began the campaign today to send a clear message that violations would not be tolerated. People should have cooperated. The checks were aimed only at ensuring effective implementation of the ban in Delhi,” he added.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours. Sukhbir Tanwar, INC State spokesperson
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
A massive traffic gridlock at Sirhaul border brought the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway’s Delhi-bound carriageway to a virtual standstill on Sunday, leaving thousands of commuters, including women travelling in packed buses, stranded for hours.
