Picture used for representative purpose only.
Residents in old and new Gurgaon have been grappling with damaged roads for quite some time and the monsoons have made matters worse.
For instance, Palam Road, along which many residential establishments are located, has many potholes, which give commuters a tough time. A dangerously deep pothole in front of Palam Vihar gate number-1 has made driving a harrowing experience for motorists. Motorists can be seen manoeuvring around the potholes to avoid a mishap.
In spite of the fact that a road project has been underway for nearly a year, the poor quality of the work is discernible from looking at the newly-laid road near Sheetla Mata Mandir, which has developed potholes.
Residents of Sector 5 claim that the main road of the sector connecting Palam Vihar is in shambles and has been under construction for years now. “There has been a lot of construction activity, but the work is still not complete. The situation has worsened after rains. Two-wheeler accidents are not uncommon as the road is very slippery. It’s been over three years, but the road has not been constructed. We’ve approached HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) officials several times but to no avail,” says a resident.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation Gurgaon (MCG) officials maintain that work on the roads has been suspended due to the onset of monsoon and that it would resume once the rainy season is over.
But it’s not just new Gurgaon, old Gurgaon is also facing the same problem. Residents allege that bad roads are the cause for traffic snarls in the city, and civic bodies like HUDA and MCG have not done enough to improve the state of affairs. Residents of areas under MCG allege that the corporation has turned a blind eye to their problems and even major roads are in a deplorable condition owing to encroachments, garbage dumping and waterlogging.
According to residents of areas like Park view city, Palam Vihar C1 and C2, the condition of roads in their colonies is worse compared to the rest of the city. They say that even internal roads have not been repaired for the past five years. Gaurav Ahuja, a resident of Park View City, says, “Even little rain causes so much inconvenience. Bike riders keep falling because of the poor condition of the road. If it’s not the rain, then it’s the overflowing sewage that damages the roads.”
