Panchkula, 19 August — Despite 13 fatalities and 15 injuries reported in the first six months of 2025, authorities in Panchkula have failed to implement remedial measures at 10 identified accident blackspots, official data shows.
The vulnerable sites include Sukhomajri Bypass, HMT Gate, Pinjore, Surajpur bus stop, Chandimandir toll plaza, Shakti Dwar (Tank Chowk), Old Panchkula light point, Majri Chowk, Sector 6/7 light point, Amartex Chowk and Tau Devi Lal Stadium light point. Road safety experts have repeatedly urged the administration to take corrective steps at these locations, but residents say little has changed on the ground.
The Chandimandir light point remains one of the most dangerous junctions, with no CCTV surveillance and frequent rule violations. Congestion caused by mechanic shops and illegally parked heavy vehicles continues unchecked.
Majri Chowk faces daily gridlock as fruit vendors and illegal two-wheeler parking block the stretch. At Old Panchkula light point, taxi and auto drivers occupy highway space while waiting for passengers, further endangering commuters.
A traffic police officer admitted that enforcement remains weak. “Challaning machines are available for only two hours a day, which makes consistent enforcement difficult,” the officer said.
Several accident-prone stretches also lack proper traffic signals or blinkers. The road linking Sector 14 with the Industrial Area, for instance, has multiple unregulated cuts where vehicles enter from both sides, posing risks particularly at Amartex Chowk and along the Zirakpur–Kalka highway.
Residents’ groups have also flagged other unsafe points across the city. The Federation of Residents’ Association (FORA) has demanded traffic lights at Major Sandeep Chowk, Bhagat Singh Chowk, Udham Singh Chowk and Geeta Chowk, warning that pedestrians are at risk and congestion worsens during peak hours.
Residents argue that despite multiple road safety committee meetings and expert recommendations, authorities have not acted with urgency. With accident numbers climbing, calls are growing for stricter enforcement and long-term safety infrastructure in Panchkula.
