The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway hit by huge jam

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Saturday, Jul 05, 2008
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Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway hit by huge jam

Staff Reporter

Fall-out of Haryana Janhit Congress protest against Special Economic Zone in Jhajjar

– PHOTO: AP

BUMPER TO BUMPER: Morning rush hour traffic approaching Gurgaon stands clogged at the toll tax collection barrier on Friday due to a protest by Haryana Janhit Congress against establishment of a new Special Economic Zone in Haryana.

NEW DELHI: Delhiites heading for Gurgaon using the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway were caught in a colossal traffic jam during the morning rush hour on Friday.

The jam extended well up to the Mahipalpur flyover, delaying thousands of office-goers on their way to work in the bustling suburb.

According to toll plaza authorities, the jam was a fall-out of the Haryana police closing all tag and cash lanes leading to Gurgaon around 7-30 a.m. after Haryana Janhit Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi and his supporters marched towards Jhajjar to protest against the establishment a Special Economic Zone in Jhajjar.

Vasant Vihar-based businessman Abhishek Kohli said: “This jam was the worst I have experienced since the expressway opened. Hundreds of cars were lined up in serpentine queues as far as the eye could see. At first I thought that there must have been an accident which would clear up in a while, but that was not the case.”

“I started from home around 9-45 a.m. and reached office at 11-15 a.m. The daily journey from my house to my Gurgaon office takes a maximum of half an hour. However, on Friday morning it took me one and a half hour to reach office,” he added.

There was heavy police presence to stop the supporters from crossing the border and the police had barricaded the road before and after the toll plaza. All the entry and exit routes to the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway were sealed by them.

A full contingent of the toll plaza corridor control team was deployed to ensure no damage or traffic mishap on the expressway.

The protesters also clashed with the police in front of Ambience Mall adjacent to the toll plaza and the police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

However, traffic coming from Gurgaon to Delhi flowed smoothly as the lanes were open.

The police allowed opening of the expressway leading to Gurgaon at 11 a.m. but traffic continued to crawl owing to the heavy congestion. The jam cleared around noon.

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