The other and a rather major one is the complete absence of Traffic Police in the area.

"The situation is getting worse day byday. I always leave early for my office to avoid the chaotic lanes of Sadar Bazar," said Shiv, a technical leader.

Sadar Bazar happens to be one of the busiest places in Old Gurgaon.

Packed with shops and a large number of people who visit them, it is almost impossible to commute through the congested lanes.

However, it is a shame that while the common people are experiencing such adversities, no traffic personnel can be seen around to manage the traffic.

It has been almost 25 years since Sectors 7 and 4, which come under the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), were established in Old Gurgaon.

However, a proper traffic management system is yet to be set up here. "There are no `traffic rules' here. People follow their own rules," says Y.P.Khanna,who has been an Old Gurgaon resident for more than 45 years. Due to the negligence of the state government, the whole identity and image of a traffic policeman in the eyes of the common people is deteriorating.

Locals atOld Gurgaon hardly care to wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler or the seat belt while driving a car.

"No one ever checks," said Pramod,a resident of Sector 7 Extension.

The absence of traffic personnel is not the only issue.

One would hardly come across any traffic signals, warning boards, indicators or pointers in Old Gurgaon.

Railway Road, which runs from Gurgaon ISBT to Gurgaon Railway Station, has the maximum number of vehicles plying every day.However, the entire road has no traffic signals or warning boards.The Sectors 4 and 7 crossing thus, inevitably, becomes an accident-prone site. The complete absence of traffic police makes the crossing even more chaotic, especially in the evening, when people are coming home from work. "It is true that here wehave less number of traffic policemen but, even those who are there, are usually busy amongst themselves," said Prakash, who runs a tea stall at the Sectors 4 and 7 crossing.

"I'm sick of this place.What the government is doing is collecting taxes," said Dharmender, who lives near Shiv Murti. Obviously, Old Gurgaon is not just old in its name; the whole system here is rotten.

As it is the roads in Old Gurgaon are not broad and well built as the ones in areas like Sushant Lok or IFFCO Chowk.

However, the last straw comes from the shopkeepers and slums. They occupy half of the already narrow roads.

The chances of accidents are thus high in Old Gurgaon.

Since the state government seems to be making no efforts to improve its traffic management, even the people have become laid back and are putting their lives at risk.

Concrete remedial steps are required from the government.

FACT FILE ■ Sadar Bazar happens to be one of the busiest places in Old Gurgaon. Packed with shops and a large number of visitors, it is almost impossible to commute through the congested lanes.

■ Locals at Old Gurgaon hardly care to wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler or the seat belt while driving a car.