While the distance to the nearest markets was just 1 km by car before the gate was closed, they now have to take the highway and travel 5 km.
A closed gate has frustrated residents of Sector 17B, Gurgaon, for well over a year.
Residents of the sector used to drive down to the market in Sector 17A for there daily needs, as there are no markets in their sector. A gate, which is owned by the Air Force authority and separates Sector 17A from 17B, was closed for vehicles in January last year, following the Pathankot attack on an Air Force base. Since then, residents are left with no choice but to either walk a km or take the highway and cover 5 km in their cars or bikes to reach the market.
A small portion of the gate allows individuals to pass through on foot from 6 am to 8 pm.
“We have no easy access to any grocery shop, ATM or chemist," said Commander SD Sharma, a resident of Sector 17B. "We managed by walking down to the market in the winters but with the summers here, that option is unthinkable."
Parents also had no option but to drive 5 km to pick up their wards, as the school buses were unable to reach their sector.
“We are aware of this issue and have been trying to resolve it for over a year," said DS Yadav, RWA president of the Sector. "There was a meeting held six months back, post which the Air Force authority was to get back to us after discussing the issue with their headquarters. We had also written to their commanding officer but we have not received any reply as yet."
