Daylong chaos: No one's watching, everyone is in each other's way at this NH-9 underpass

Ghaziabad: On the roads near the Shipra underpass in Ghaziabad, wrong-side driving has become an everyday hazard, especially during peak morning and evening hours. Auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and even trucks regularly flout traffic norms, weaving through oncoming lanes in a bid to save time and avoid longer, congested U-turns.

The consequences are felt most acutely in neighbourhoods like Indirapuram, Vaishali, Vasundhara, and Kala Pathar, where residents report growing congestion. The tailbacks intensify after rains, as waterlogging brings the traffic to a crawl near NH-9 and Gaur Green Society.

Drivers say they have little choice. "To go around through the UP Gate underpass takes too long," a 34-year-old auto-rickshaw driver told TOI. "I can squeeze in one more trip if I save time on each round. Passengers want to get home fast too, and many insist that we take the shortcut."

An e-rickshaw driver added, "After waiting for hours in the sun, I earn Rs 500 to Rs 600 a day. Half of that goes to rent. I can't afford longer detours."

Local residents, however, are bearing the brunt. "It's terrifying to walk down the road on this stretch," said Nitin Kumar from Indirapuram. "Vehicles come speeding at you from the wrong direction, from the underpass. It is free-for-all when there are no traffic cops around."

Police have launched a crackdown earlier this week. "Since Monday, over 2,300 challans have been issued and more than 70 vehicles seized. Wrong-side driving is not a structural fault — it's a mindset. We are working to change that," ACP (traffic) Ziauddin Ahmad said. Residents, however, believe a lasting change can come only through stricter enforcement.