Expect 16-lane e-way by March, and rapid Metro by Sept 2016

On May 29, 2015

For Gurgaon residents, Golf Course Road can be the equivalent of Singapore’s Orchard Road’ with tree-lined boulevards, glitzy shopping malls, highrise apartments, neon signs and a throbbing nightlife. TOI ran a series of articles highlighting the plight of the road now: potholed roads, peppered on either side with mounds of construction debris and covered by a permanent blanket of dust. This is largely the result of the frantic construction work taking place there. Till the work gets over, do things have to really remain this way? Our campaign acted as a wake-up call, and the different authorities concerned have promised measures that should bring about some relief till everything is finally in place. But before wrapping up our campaign, we spoke to all the stakeholders, asking them what they will do, and by when. The three we spoke to are HUDA administrator Anita Yadav (AY), DLF director of estates Rohit Malik (RM) and Rapid Metro senior VP Pritam Kumar (PK). This is what they had to say:

Q: Was traffic relief/diversion planned simultaneously with the projects (16-lane expressway and Rapid Metro)?

AY: The current Rapid Metro extension project began in January 2013, and was scheduled to be completed by January 2016. It is currently running six months behind schedule. We hope to complete it by September 2016. The diversion plan was approved in February 2014.

The 16-lane expressway project began on May 23, 2012, and was scheduled to be completed in 35 months, by April 22, 2015. With major bottlenecks slowing down work, the project is likely to be completed by March 31, 2016, subject to acquisition of necessary land.

RM: Traffic diversion is always part of any construction/upgradation work. Construction of both projects (upgradation of HUDA sector road and Rapid Metro) is currently in progress. Two more projects are also currently going on in this stretch — laying of underground 66kV line from Mega Mall to Sector 55-56, and shifting of BPCL line from Sector 42 to Sector 55-56. The traffic problems are partially because of these.

PK: Yes, a diversion plan was made to minimize disruption of traffic, keeping the convenience and safety of commuters in mind.

Q: Major bottlenecks? Measures needed to expedite work?

AY: Major bottlenecks include pending court cases, acquisition of small pockets of land (approximately 3.50 acre) that were left out initially, six plots yet to be handed over by DTP and finally, removal of encroachments (six pockets yet to be cleared).

RM: The road team has not been able to begin work from Sector 42 traffic signal to Sector 55-56, with three more projects running concurrently on this stretch. It can only be taken up after these projects are completed. Road work from Ambience Mall to Sector 42 traffic signal, though, is substantially complete.

Other issues on this stretch include:

1. Construction of underpass ramp is on hold because of non-availability of land near Neha nursery.

2. At the second U-turn near Phase II Metro station, a wine shop has encroached.

3. Working space for Sikanderpur underpass in front of Meer Singh market unavailable.

PK: Major bottlenecks included shifting of utilities and diversion of traffic. Effective management by authorities would help expedite work.

Q: Plans to enhance greenery and pedestrian safety, and by when?

AY: The entire stretch has been redesigned to ensure safe mobility for pedestrian/cyclists/non-motorized vehicles. There also are landscaping elements along the road, including provisions for cycle tracks, shared lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, ramps and table-top crossing at junctions, pedestrian and traffic signage, tactile paving on footpath and ramps for the physically challenged, etc, along with soft and hard landscaping on footpaths, medians and junctions. In addition, DLF will build four foot-over bridges in Cyber City on its own.

RM: As per landscape plan prepared by contractor AECOM, total green area would be approximately 60 acres. We’ll begin landscaping where road work is substantially completed in the monsoon. Pedestrian safety is part of this.

PK: Our prime focus is to provide a safe and healthy environment. Greenery similar to that around Phase 1 stations is planned around Phase 2 stations, which will be done after the stations are built.

Q: By when can Gurgaon residents expect the project to be opened?

AY: The 16-lane expressway should be open by March 31, 2016; the Rapid Metro by September 2016.

RM: Gurgaon residents are already reaping benefits of the project, as the Sikanderpur flyover and Cyber City underpass are already open to traffic. Roads that are substantially completed have also been opened.

PK: Rapid Metro Phase 2, which is 6.3 km with 5 stations, is scheduled to open in the later half of 2016.

Q: Your take on construction lapses and their effect on commuters and residents, as highlighted in TOI’s campaign?

AY: Issues highlighted, such as maintenance of existing corridor, makeshift lighting arrangements, quicker construction work with improved mobility during construction, have all been attended to from time to time.

RM: We are sensitive to concerns of Gurgaon’s commuters and residents and are trying to ameliorate these as soon as possible.

PK: We support TOI in their campaign that raised issues concerning the people. We hope feedback from readers can be incorporated, wherever possible.
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