GURUGRAM: The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is set to complete six-laning of a stretch between Umang Bharadwaj Chowk and Basai, but commuters from the city are unlikely to get relief before the end of 2024 because of a 2.2km portion, whose redevelopment is yet to start.
The portion stuck in limbo is part of the 5.8km-long stretch between Hero Honda Chowk and Dwarka Expressway near Sector 101, which was to be developed by GMDA and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to address the issue of congestion. While the construction of the 3.6km stretch from Umang Bharadwaj Chowk to the Dwarka Expressway link near Sector 101 began in 2018, the redevelopment of the 2.2km portion between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bharadwaj Chowk is yet to start. This stretch will be developed by the NHAI’s Rewari project implementation unit.
At the time of conceiving the project, the 2.2km stretch was to be redeveloped independently by the NHAI. But the highways authority has now clubbed the project with another — a 44km highway from Pataudi to Rewari. Construction of the highway was expected to start in June this year, but the delay in clearing encroachments by HSVP and other hurdles over land have delayed the project.
Officials, however, are hoping to start work by October. “The project has already been allotted to a contractor and a field survey is done. Once the encroachments are cleared and we get the land needed, we’ll begin construction. We are pushing hard to start the work by the first week of October,” said a senior NHAI official.
Officials said once the land hurdles were cleared, NHAI would take over 30 months to complete the project. If the construction manages to start next October, the stretch will not be ready before the end of 2024.
The entire project will cost around Rs 1,600 crore — including the amount required for land acquisition.
The Pataudi-Rewari highway will start from Sector 88A near the Dwarka Expressway and end near the Pataudi road intersection. The stretch between Umang Bharadwaj Chowk and Dwarka Expressway will serve as the bypass.
GMDA officials said they had urged HSVP to expedite work on getting the land. “HSVP should be able to clear the encroachments in a few weeks. NHAI can begin their work on this stretch at least. Other issues pertaining to land will also be addressed in a time-bound manner,” said a GMDA official.
Urban planners have suggested that the stretch needs to be developed early to avoid bottlenecks. They have warned that with high-speed vehicles coming from the Basai side via the six-lane road, which is set to be completed, and converging into under-construction lanes, Umang Bharadwaj Chowk will become a major choke point and an accident blackspot.
Residents have decided to request Union minister Nitin Gadkari to develop the stretch on a priority basis. “This stretch will link the Dwarka Expressway, so its significance cannot be denied. Even now, this stretch sees heavy vehicular movement, especially for the residents of new sectors. We want NHAI to complete the stretch first before laying hands on the highway project,” said Prakhar Sahay, who has been coordinating with government officials to expedite the completion of the Dwarka Expressway.
