Widest e-way becomes truck parking lot at night

A recurring issue on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, where commuters bound for Delhi face obstacles during the night hours. Instead of enjoying the space on India's widest expressway, drivers often encounter congestion caused by a lineup of trucks and smaller goods carriers near the toll plaza at the UP Gate (Ghazipur) border. This situation persists every night between 9 pm and 11 pm. The trucks are observed to be parked along the flyover's length, extending up to the Khoda underpass, and even farther when the truck traffic is high. These parked vehicles occupy a significant portion of the lanes, impeding the smooth flow of traffic. Although the queue of trucks diminishes gradually by midnight, it reappears at dawn. The reason behind this phenomenon stems from the restriction imposed on commercial goods vehicles, prohibiting their entry into Delhi from 7 am to 11 am and from 5 pm to 11 pm. Consequently, trucks and other goods carriers arriving early opt to park on the expressway before the border, utilising the waiting time for meals or rest. This practice has persisted over months without intervention from law enforcement or the National Highways Authority of India. Upon investigation, it was observed that trucks carrying various goods, such as furniture, garments, automobile parts, home decor, electronics, sports equipment, construction materials, and books, are frequently parked on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway after 9 pm. Mohammad Akhtar, transporting gym equipment to Delhi, mentioned that he resides in Meerut and frequently travels to the capital, utilizing the waiting period until the no-entry restriction is lifted.