Gurgaon: Traffic police have begun a trial to create a dedicated pick-and-drop lane for e-rickshaws, starting near Agrasen Chowk. The move aims to streamline last-mile connectivity and improve traffic flow in the Sadar Bazar area.The dedicated lane runs from Agarwal Dharamshala near Agrasen Chowk past the MCG office. Officials said similar arrangements may be introduced at other congestion points, including Shankar Chowk, IFFCO Chowk and areas near metro stations, based on the trial’s outcome.The initiative is part of a broader traffic management plan launched at Agrasen Chowk on April 19 by DCP (traffic) Prateek Gahlot to regulate vehicular movement in the busy Sadar Bazar area.Officials said the lane has been demarcated considering the high volume of commuters and pedestrians in the area, which often leads to bottlenecks. “The e-rickshaws will have a separate halt space and will not disrupt traffic. Passengers will board and alight within this space, and traffic personnel will monitor the flow. We plan to introduce similar halting points in other areas,” Gahlot said.As part of the trial, traffic movement has also been modified. Motorists who earlier took a U-turn near the Agrasen Chowk–Agarwal Dharamshala stretch to head towards the railway station can now take a right turn at Agrasen Chowk. Vehicles coming via Railway Road towards Jharsa or Agarwal Dharamshala will use a designated U-turn constructed ahead of the PNB bank.Traffic police said the changes are being implemented on a pilot basis and will be made permanent if found effective.Meanwhile, enforcement against violations by e-rickshaw drivers has also been intensified. Around 1,000 drivers were challenged between Jan 1 and April 17 this year for offenses such as driving without number plates, parking at unauthorized locations and wrong-side driving.Last year, traffic police issued 5,029 challans to e-rickshaw drivers and collected nearly Rs 1 crore in fines.Officials said such violations significantly contribute to congestion and road safety risks. “We urge everyone to follow traffic rules to ensure safer and smoother traffic movement. Enforcement drives will continue,” police spokesperson Sandeep Turan said.Despite being a widely used last-mile transport option, e-rickshaws have increasingly contributed to traffic disorder in the city. Instances of wrong-side driving, hazardous parking and crowding at junctions are common across arterial roads and neighborhood lanes.The problem is particularly visible on high-speed stretches such as the Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway and the Udyog Vihar–Sikandarpur corridor, especially around Shankar Chowk. Areas including Sector 14, Golf Course Road, Rajiv Chowk, Old Gurgaon and the Kapashera border also witness frequent congestion linked to e-rickshaw movement.The situation worsens near metro stations such as Guru Dronacharya and Sikandarpur, where large numbers of e-rickshaws gather near exit points, often blocking pedestrian pathways and service lanes.
