Proposal to build road through Aravali park put on backburner

GURUGRAM: After months of opposition by residents’ groups and environmentalists, the plan to build a road through a portion of the Aravali Biodiversity Park has been put on hold, at least for the time being.

MCG commissioner Yashpal Yadav told TOI on Wednesday: “I have submitted a report to GMDA as they were coordinating with NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) for this project. I have asked them to reconsider it. The road development plan was not according to the 2031 Master Plan.”

In a letter sent by the MCG to the GMDA on November 19, the commissioner has mentioned: “It is observed that MCG was not taken into loop during planning of this road. MCG is the owner of the land and prime mover for development of Biodiversity Park with the help of NGO and private corporators (sic) through CSR funds.”

The NHAI would have needed around 10 acres of land to make the 2km stretch of the road — a part of the Greater Southern Peripheral Road (GSPR) project — which was to pass through the park. Were this road to be built, it would lop off an entire portion along one of the park’s two long edges. A senior NHAI official said: “The road through the park has been put on hold.”

The MCG has said the NHAI first needs to build the connection between Nelson Mandela Marg in Delhi and Gurgaon, and then turn its attention to the connection with GSPR (currently, the road that is proposed through the park). “The main reason for this road is to provide one more entry and exit in Delhi through Nelson Mandela Marg. However, this road may not be of any use till Nelson Mandela Marg is connected to it. Therefore, it may be ensured that (the) Delhi portion of Nelson Mandela Marg is completed first, then this road may be planned, if need be,” Yadav wrote in his letter.

The commissioner has also suggested an environment impact assessment of the proposed road project. “Before the process of acquisition starts, this survey should be done so that various major roads (and) railway projects, for example, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Western Peripheral Expressway, Dwarka Expressway and RRTS (Rapid Rail) may also be taken into account, which are going to help in decongestion of traffic,” he wrote.