Gurugram is preparing to rethink two of its busiest Old City road corridors as rising traffic, dense neighbourhoods and upcoming transport investments place greater pressure on the existing network. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has initiated the process of preparing a detailed project report for the upgrade of Old Railway Road and New Railway Road, with the exercise expected to shape how vehicles and pedestrians move through some of the city’s most congested areas.
The proposed study covers around 9.6 km of road infrastructure. Old Railway Road, stretching between Rajiv Chowk and the railway station, accounts for approximately 7.5 km, while New Railway Road covers nearly 2.1 km between Mahavir Chowk and the Sector 4/7 junction. A consultant will examine the available road space and existing right of way before recommending changes to the corridors. The proposed assessment is expected to examine junction layouts, lane distribution, turning movements, medians, traffic islands and service roads. Importantly, the Gurugram railway roads upgrade will also assess pedestrian crossings, footpaths and road safety infrastructure. That focus is significant in a part of the city where transport demand is not limited to private vehicles. The corridors connect major commercial, administrative and residential areas, including Sadar Bazar, Civil Lines, Jacobpura and several established sectors.
Their proximity to the railway station also gives them a wider role in the city’s public transport network. The Gurugram railway roads upgrade is being planned alongside two major changes that could further increase movement through the area: the proposed metro corridor and the redevelopment of the railway station. Without better pedestrian access and clearer traffic management, additional transport capacity could simply shift congestion from one junction to another. Urban planners say the project’s success will depend on whether the final design treats road space as a shared civic asset rather than prioritising vehicle throughput alone. Footpaths, safe crossings and predictable junctions are particularly important for older people, children, women, people with disabilities and workers who rely on walking or public transport for daily travel.
The DPR is expected to be prepared within three months. The next stage will determine whether the recommendations translate into a coordinated corridor upgrade or remain limited to isolated road engineering works. For a rapidly expanding city, the larger test will be whether transport investment improves everyday access and safety while using existing urban land more efficiently and reducing avoidable dependence on private vehicles.
