For thousands of residents in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, the morning commute has become a daily ordeal. Since November 10, 2025, Mohana Road—a critical artery connecting Chandawal Village, Mukesh Colony, and the city center—has been fully closed for elevated corridor construction, with no viable alternative route in place. The closure, ordered by the Public Works Department (PWD), is meant to accelerate work on a ₹225–256 crore project that’s already dragged on since July 2024. But what was pitched as a future solution to traffic jams has become the cause of one.
Commuters Pay the Price
Residents like Mohammad Iqbal, who travels daily from Mukesh Colony to Uchgaon, now face a 4-kilometer detour. Satish from Chandawal Village says he’s adding 5 kilometers to his daily trip—time he can’t afford, especially when heading to the government hospital. “I used to reach the hospital in 12 minutes,” he told Live Hindustan. “Now it’s 45. And if you’re an elderly patient or someone with a heart condition, those extra 30 minutes can be life-threatening.”
The chaos peaked on November 10, when nearly half an hour of gridlock formed at Post Office Chowk. Shopkeepers reported lost sales as customers abandoned trips. Auto-rickshaw drivers, sensing desperation, doubled their fares. “Before, I charged ₹80 from Chandawal to Ballabhgarh,” said driver Rajesh Kumar. “Now? ₹160. And even then, people have no choice.”
Where’s the Alternate Route?
The PWD’s failure to prepare a temporary diversion has drawn sharp criticism. While officials claim alternatives are “coming soon,” residents are left navigating a patchwork of unmarked, congested side roads. Those heading from Chandawal to Ballabhgarh are now routed through Sector 64 and 62, then along Maleran Road, before joining the National Highway behind Akash Cinema. The reverse route? Take Tigwan Road to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway—a detour that adds 15–20 minutes and increases fuel costs.
But here’s the twist: these “alternatives” weren’t designed for this volume. Local lanes, meant for bicycles and two-wheelers, are now choked with cars and autos. “We’re turning residential alleys into highways,” said neighborhood activist Priya Mehta. “No traffic signals. No signage. Just chaos.”
The Promise Behind the Closure
At the center of this disruption is MLA Mulchand Sharma, who announced the elevated corridor as his “dream project” during a November 8 ground-breaking ceremony. “This bridge will connect the National Highway to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway,” he told reporters, “and finally free our city from traffic jams.”
The project, which includes 90 concrete pillars and spans 3.2 kilometers, is meant to ease congestion on one of Faridabad’s most overloaded corridors. But critics point out: if the goal was to reduce traffic, why close the only road that connects three major residential zones? The PWD’s own data shows over 18,000 vehicles use Mohana Road daily—nearly half of them are commuters to hospitals, schools, and markets.
Another Project, Another Promise?
Adding to the frustration, on the same day MLA Sharma inaugurated the elevated bridge’s foundation, he also launched a ₹180 million road renovation project in Sector 2 and Sector 64. The goal? To improve local connectivity. But residents are asking: why fix side streets when the main artery is buried under construction?
“It feels like they’re building a new highway while burning down the old one,” said local businessman Anil Verma, whose shop near Post Office Chowk saw a 60% drop in footfall since the closure. “We’re not against progress. But progress shouldn’t come at the cost of our daily survival.”
What’s Next?
According to SDO Ram Prakash of the PWD, temporary diversions will be operational “within days.” But no timeline has been officially confirmed. Meanwhile, the elevated bridge’s completion is still slated for early 2026—leaving residents bracing for another six months of disruption.
Experts warn this isn’t just a local issue. Similar cases in Noida and Ghaziabad show that without phased closures and real-time traffic management, infrastructure projects often backfire. “Closing a major road without a parallel network is like removing a vein without replacing the artery,” said urban planner Dr. Neha Singh. “The pain is immediate. The cure? Uncertain.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Mohana Road closed without a proper alternative?
The Public Works Department claims the closure was necessary to speed up construction of the elevated corridor, but no formal traffic management plan was shared with residents. Local officials admit the alternative routes were only improvised after public outcry, and none are officially marked or maintained. This lack of planning has turned a construction project into a public emergency.
How is the elevated bridge supposed to help traffic?
The 3.2-kilometer elevated corridor aims to link the National Highway with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, reducing through-traffic on surface roads. Officials say it will cut travel time between Faridabad and Gurgaon by 20 minutes. But critics argue that without integrating bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, and smart signals, the bridge may just shift congestion elsewhere—not solve it.
Who is most affected by this closure?
Patients traveling to Faridabad’s only government hospital from Chandawal and Mukesh Colony are hardest hit. Elderly residents, daily wage laborers, and schoolchildren face longer commutes. Auto drivers report 40% higher fuel costs due to detours, and small shop owners near Post Office Chowk have lost up to 70% of their daily customers. The economic ripple effect is spreading fast.
What’s the cost of the project, and who’s paying for it?
The elevated bridge project is estimated between ₹225 crore and ₹256 crore, funded by the Haryana state government through the Public Works Department. While exact budget breakdowns aren’t public, reports suggest nearly 30% of the cost covers land acquisition and environmental mitigation—neither of which has been addressed during the closure. Residents are left wondering if the price tag justifies the disruption.
Are there any legal remedies for affected residents?
Technically, residents can file public interest litigations (PILs) under Article 21 (right to life and mobility) for undue hardship. Legal experts say the PWD’s failure to provide timely alternatives may constitute negligence. Several community groups are consulting lawyers to explore collective action, but so far, no formal petition has been filed.
When will the elevated bridge be ready?
MLA Mulchand Sharma has stated the bridge will be completed and inaugurated “within a few months,” likely by March 2026. But construction timelines have slipped before—initially planned for late 2024, the project is now 16 months behind. Without transparency on progress, residents remain skeptical.