Gurgaon office-goers may soon stop dreading Shankar Chowk: DLF gets NHAI nod for two new road structures that could change traffic movement around Cyber City

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has given in-principle approval for two new road structures aimed at easing congestion around Shankar Chowk and Cyber City in Gurgaon. The plan includes a right-turn underpass below the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and a one-way flyover along the NH-8 service road. DLF will construct both structures at its own cost, with the combined project estimated at around Rs 300 crore, according to a TOI report. NHAI issued the approval on October 1, while the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) had cleared the proposals last month.

Shankar Chowk traffic: What NHAI has approved

The proposed underpass will connect Moulsari Avenue Road with NH-8 near HIL land. It will be around 600 metres long and three lanes wide.

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The facility is expected to allow vehicles travelling from DLF Phase 3 towards Delhi to take a direct right turn instead of using the existing U-turn flyover near Cyber City.

An NHAI official told TOI, “We have issued in-principle approval to DLF for construction of the proposed flyover along the service road of NH-8 and the right-turn underpass from Moulsari Avenue Road to NH-8 for traffic decongestion from Sirhaul toll to Shankar Chowk in Gurgaon.”

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New flyover from Ambience Mall side to Cyber City

The second project is a roughly 1.3-km-long, six-lane flyover along the NH-8 service road. It will run from the U-turn underpass near Ambience Mall towards Cyber City.

The flyover will include ramps for vehicles exiting the existing U-turn underpass as well as traffic travelling towards Moulsari Avenue Road.

It is planned to cater to vehicles heading towards Cyber City, Udyog Vihar, Sikanderpur and DLF Phase 3, while also providing another route for traffic generated by Ambience Mall and DLF's Downtown development.

Why Shankar Chowk faces traffic pressure

At present, vehicles from DLF Phase 3 travelling towards Delhi use the U-turn facility near Cyber City before joining traffic at Shankar Chowk.

This traffic merges with vehicles coming from Udyog Vihar, Golf Course Road, IFFCO Chowk and other parts of Gurgaon, adding to the pressure at the busy junction.

The proposed underpass is expected to separate DLF Phase 3-bound traffic from this flow and provide a more direct route towards Delhi.

DLF Downtown expected to add more traffic

The two projects are part of DLF's plan to increase capacity and reduce congestion on the NH-8 service road between Sirhaul toll plaza and Shankar Chowk.

The proposal was submitted following a meeting chaired by the NHAI chairman in October last year. DLF had cited existing congestion and the expected increase in traffic from its 35-acre Downtown development as reasons for the additional infrastructure.

The first phase of Downtown, comprising three office buildings, has been completed, while the second phase, including a retail mall and four office buildings, is under construction. The completed development is expected to generate a combined footfall of around 1.5 lakh people.

NHAI lays down safety conditions for construction

NHAI has asked DLF to put adequate safety arrangements in place while the projects are being built.

The requirements include trained traffic marshals, flagmen and a dedicated safety officer throughout construction. DLF will also have to install and maintain retro-reflective signs, cones, delineators, blinkers, hazard markers, crash barriers and other approved traffic-control equipment.

The two projects are expected to add road capacity and separate some of the traffic movements currently converging around Shankar Chowk, one of the key entry points to Gurgaon’s Cyber City and surrounding business districts.


Inputs from TOI