NHAI to remove flyover railings on Delhi–Gurugram route after fatal crash

After a fatal crash near Signature Towers, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said it is accelerating removal of exposed metal railings from flyovers along the Delhi–Gurugram Expressway. The safety work matters especially to two-wheeler commuters because a missing or bent pipe can turn a roadside barrier into a hazard, even while police investigate the exact sequence of the crash.

Illustration of a damaged metal flyover railing beside a concrete crash barrier on an urban expressway

Illustration: a damaged flyover railing beside a concrete crash barrier, representative of the safety issue; not a photograph of the Delhi–Gurugram incident. Credit: Editorial illustration.

Key takeaways

NHAI says it is expediting removal of the metal railings across the flyovers on the 28-km Delhi–Gurugram route.
The expressway has nine flyovers, from Rao Tula Ram Marg and Mahipalpur through to Rajiv Chowk, according to the reported NHAI details.
The NHAI timeline quoted in the body of two reports is two weeks for the remaining railings, but a Times of India photo caption says two months; the agency has not published a completion notice in the reports reviewed.
Police are investigating an alleged collision involving an unidentified vehicle near Signature Towers on 05 Oct 2026.

What NHAI is changing

Hindustan Times reported on 07 Oct 2026 that NHAI is moving faster to remove the hand railings fixed along the concrete crash barriers on all flyovers on the route. The stretch runs from Rao Tula Ram in Delhi to the Kherki Daula toll area in Haryana and covers about 28 km. NHAI officials told the newspaper that some sections had become exposed after metal parts were stolen, leaving gaps and damaged ends.

The reported action is part of ongoing upgrading work on the Delhi–Gurugram section. NHAI's position, as reported by both Hindustan Times and The Times of India, is that these railings are not required where concrete crash barriers are already in place. The agency has already removed railings at the Rao Tula Ram flyover and is carrying out some work at night because daytime traffic is heavy.

NHAI also told Hindustan Times that it is removing jersey barriers on service lanes where permanent walls have already been built. That is a separate service-lane measure, but it points to a wider effort to reduce redundant or damaged roadside hardware rather than leave exposed sections in place.

Why damaged barriers are a commuter issue

An intact railing and a damaged railing are not the same safety condition. The Times of India quoted a road-safety specialist who said a bent or protruding pipe can become dangerous for a two-wheeler that leaves its line after a collision. The same report noted that damaged or missing sections should be repaired, replaced or clearly protected until the work is finished.

That distinction is important because the current reports do not establish that the railing caused the original collision. They describe an alleged impact by an unidentified vehicle, followed by the rider hitting the roadside structure. The police investigation, rather than the agency's removal decision, will determine the sequence and responsibility.

What happened near Signature Towers

According to The Times of India and Dainik Jagran, 37-year-old delivery rider Ajay Kumar was travelling on the expressway in the early hours of 05 Oct 2026 when police say his motorcycle was involved in a collision with an unidentified vehicle. He sustained fatal injuries after the motorcycle reached a damaged roadside structure. Police registered a case against the unidentified vehicle and are examining nearby camera footage.

The Times of India also reported that the camera system at the location was not working after a wire was found cut. That is a reported investigation detail, not a confirmed explanation for the crash, and the matter remains under investigation. No conclusion about the rider, the unidentified driver or NHAI's maintenance responsibility should be drawn before the authorities complete their inquiries.

What commuters should expect now

The reports do not announce a blanket closure of the expressway. They do indicate that removal teams may work at night and that the route can have temporary maintenance activity near flyovers. Riders and drivers using the corridor should watch for cones, workers, narrowed lanes and changed roadside edges, particularly around flyover approaches and service lanes while the work is under way.

The timeline needs watching. The NHAI statement quoted in the main text of both reports says the remaining railings would be removed within two weeks. However, a Times of India image caption on the 06 Oct 2026 report says the work would take two months. Until NHAI clarifies that difference or posts a completion update, commuters should treat the safety work as ongoing rather than assume every flyover has been cleared.

For a planned NCR journey, the road-trip planner can help compare route and departure options when maintenance activity is expected. If the journey uses the Kherki Daula side, check toll charges and trip cost before leaving. A diversion or slower flyover passage can also change the fuel budget, which can be estimated with the fuel cost calculator.

What to watch next

The next useful update will be a location-wise confirmation from NHAI showing which flyovers have been cleared, how damaged sections are being treated before removal and whether roadside surveillance has been restored at the crash location. Commuters should also look for police updates on the unidentified vehicle and for any traffic advisory if night work requires a lane restriction.

The immediate lesson is narrower than a blanket warning about the route: roadside safety hardware has to remain intact until it is removed or replaced. For people on two-wheelers, a clear view of the lane, a safe speed for the conditions and attention to temporary work zones matter while the authority carries out the promised changes.