Once synonymous with rapid urban growth and expressway-driven development, Gurgaon faces a complex transportation puzzle. Congested roads, unsafe pedestrian environments, and underdeveloped public transport systems have made mobility a daily challenge for residents. While infrastructure has expanded, car-centric planning has left the city struggling with traffic congestion, pollution, and road fatalities.

Gurgaon has one of the highest car ownership rates in India — 323 cars per 1,000 people. This over-dependence on private vehicles has marginalized public and non-motorized transport. Despite its 953 km road network, travel times are increasing, especially with 67% of trips occurring between Gurgaon and Delhi. Lack of integrated planning, absence of bypasses, and poor pedestrian infrastructure exacerbate the city’s traffic woes.

To address these issues, the Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) launched the CMMP 2020, developed with support from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. It outlines a sustainable mobility roadmap from 2021 to 2041.

• Gurgaon Road Network: 953 km
• Usable Footpaths: Only 28% of roads have footpaths, and 74% of them are obstructed by vehicles, vendors, or poor design.
• Road Speeds:
  • 51% of the road network operates below 30 kmph
  • 11% exceeds 60 kmph, increasing accident risk

• Shift focus from vehicles to people
• Invest in non-motorized transport (NMT) and mass transit
• Create a safer, more inclusive, and environmentally sustainable urban transport system

• 1,083 km of new footpaths across 800 km of road
• 12 dedicated pedestrian crossings
• Bypasses and consistent-speed corridors to reduce traffic bottlenecks

33% of all trips in Gurgaon are made on foot, proving the need for safer pedestrian spaces. However, cyclists face encroachments and safety hazards, with dedicated cycle tracks often misused.

• 797 km of cycle tracks
• Public Bike Sharing system with 10,000 cycles
• Clear signage, secure parking, and traffic-calming measures

Initiatives by groups like Raahgiri Foundation and WRI India are pushing for better cycling infrastructure, but citywide action is still needed.

The current bus and metro systems fall short of the city's needs:

City Buses (Haryana Roadways, GMCBL):

• Sparse coverage
• Low frequency
• Poor infrastructure

Rapid Metro & Delhi Metro:

• Primarily serve New Gurgaon
• Plans to expand into Old Gurgaon are underway but face funding hurdles

Experts stress the need for a dense, multimodal network integrating:

• Public buses
• E-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws
• Metro services
• Pedestrian and cycling corridors

A staggering 4.47 lakh passenger car units (PCUs) enter Gurgaon daily. Without a city bypass, much of this traffic clogs central routes.

Solutions include:

• Organised parking systems
• Traffic calming measures
• Regulating informal transport (cabs, autos)
• Reducing reliance on high-speed corridors in favor of consistent-speed flow

The pedestrianisation of Sadar Bazar by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram is a welcome initiative. GMDA’s proposal to set up a Non-Motorized Transport Cell will prioritize safer, walkable, and bike-friendly city spaces.

A sustainable transport future for Gurgaon requires:

• Strong policy implementation
• Inter-agency coordination
• Civic participation
• Behavioral shift towards public and active transport

Gurgaon stands at a transportation crossroads. Embracing the CMMP’s principle of “moving people, not vehicles”, the city must transition from car-dominated planning to a more inclusive, environmentally conscious mobility model.The road ahead requires vision, investment, and collaboration—but the destination, a more liveable Gurgaon, is worth the effort.