NHAI official says poor drain management cause for NH8 traffic jam

The Chief General Manager of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), B S Singla, on Saturday said the main reason for the traffic chaos on National Highway-8 (NH-8) was due to the poor management of storm drains.

Singla said at present, there was no traffic jam, but warned about the poor drainage system and asked the city administration to re-examine it.

"As the level at Hero Honda Chowk is down and water from all the sectors was coming there due to poor cross slope and the water was coming from different sectors. The drains constructed at the Hero Honda Chowk have been made to take normal water of the roads and not the drainage of the entire city, which leads to the collection of the entire water there," Singla told ANI.

Giving details about the breached Badshahpur drain, Singla said: "The place where the Badshahpur drain is constructed, there is a five metre bridge, due to which water over flowed and got collected there."

When asked about the traffic jam on the highway Singla said it was the fault of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).

"The drains were made according to assigned levels. They were supposed to join that drain with the Badshapur drain. And further, had to do the desilting of Badshapur drain which is still not done," Singla added.

When asked about the imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) around the Hero Honda Chowk, Singla replied: "National highway drain can take only that much amount of water that falls on it and not the water from the entire city. They (city authorities) have to themselves re-examine the drainage of the city and construct it properly."

Singla stated that the drainage system of the city has to be fixed properly and would work in-tandem with the city administration.

Singla further added that they have given suggestions to the city administration for the clearance of the Badshapur drain and desilting so that there is proper disposal of water.