Gurgaon: After a recent traffic police survey on illegal cuts along Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) closed 35 of them to reduce the risk of accidents.The survey, conducted jointly by traffic police and the traffic engineering centre, had identified 49 illegal cuts on a nearly 43km stretch from Sirhaul border to Kapriwas border, falling in the city, on NH-8.According to official data, of the 1,118 accidents reported last year, 234 occurred on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, resulting in 127 deaths. In 2025, 474 people died in road accidents. In Jan this year, eight people died in 15 accidents on this expressway. During the same period last year, eight deaths were recorded in 20 accidents on the same stretch.The cuts that were closed were located near Triveni Dhaba Kapriwas, Balaji Vishno Hotel in Sidhrawali, Starex University, Samrat Hotel, RTO parking, Discovery Wine Shop, Jai Durga Hotel, Rathiwas cut and Drive Thru.Illegal cuts were also identified near German Cafe Hotel, near the old U-turn at Sidhrawali, Ashok Leyland, Hotel Highway King, Shahid Amar Singh Public School, near the Rampura flyover entry, Indo Space cut, MBLM School cut and opposite Mannat Hotel. These are yet to be rectified.Police said the cuts were made without permission from the authorities. Some were created by breaking or damaging footpaths or central dividers.Urging commuters to avoid taking shortcuts and to follow traffic rules for their safety, DCP (traffic) Rajesh Mohan said, “The purpose of the survey was to identify illegal cuts on the national highway to prevent accidents. Lives are precious, and commuters should avoid taking shortcuts or illegal cuts and instead use the correct road or passage, as a few minutes’ drive ahead and following traffic rules will keep the road users safe. Most of the illegal cuts have been removed and work is ongoing.” The traffic police also identified locations where hazardous markings were required. Following this, crash barriers and tyres painted in yellow and black were installed at several points on the expressway. Hazard markings were also added near toll plazas to improve visibility and reduce the risk of collisions.
