Parliament Slams NHAI for Delhi Highway Traffic Chaos

New Delhi, June 23, 2025 – A parliamentary report has criticized the National Highways Authority of India for severe traffic jams on highways linking Delhi to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The gridlocks are costing the economy heavily, and the panel demands quick action to fix the mess. Here’s what’s happening.

Problem Areas

Traffic is stuck:

• The Delhi-Meerut Expressway (NH-9) sees hours-long delays, especially near Ghaziabad.
• The Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH-48) faces heavy congestion around Gurugram.
• The Eastern Peripheral Expressway, meant to ease traffic, is still incomplete.
• A commuter said, “I spend two hours daily just crossing 10 kilometers.”

The roads are choked.

Economic and Daily Impact

The jams hurt everyone:

• Trucks face delays, raising costs for goods like food and fuel.
• Idling vehicles add to Delhi’s air pollution, worsening winter smog.
• A shop owner noted, “Late deliveries are killing my business.”

The costs are piling up.

NHAI’s Shortfalls

The report points fingers:

• NHAI blames slow land acquisition for project delays.
• Toll plazas cause bottlenecks due to poor management.
• An X post read, “NHAI knew traffic would grow but did nothing.”

The agency is under fire.

Demands for Action

The panel wants fixes:

• Finish the Eastern Peripheral Expressway to divert trucks.
• Use better technology to manage traffic flow at tolls.
• A driver said, “Toll booths need to work faster, not hold us up.”

Time is running out.

What’s Next

Solutions are needed:

• Clear stalled vehicles quickly to keep traffic moving.
• Plan new routes to take pressure off busy highways.
• An X user wrote, “Delhi needs smarter roads, not more promises.”

Change can’t wait.