Gurugram: Proposed over a year ago, MG Road streetscaping yet to take off

GURUGRAM: Work on the streetscaping project for MG Road is yet to begin, over a year after the GMDA’s core planning cell (CPC) approved the plan.
According to officials, they have already floated the tender for the project thrice this year — in April, June and August. While it was re-invited due to “administrative reasons” the first time, the second time, only two bidders came forward. The agencies responding to the tender were associated more with road development rather than streetscaping, officials said.

“Due to these reasons, it was proposed that we re-invite bids for the third time. The CEO also asked that we ensure more publicity is given to the tender and contractors who are experienced in these types of projects be invited to partic-ipate,” said a senior GMDA official.
“The tender was floated again in August and the responses are now under evaluation. We hope to commence work on the ground soon,” the official added.
With the project expected to take seven months to complete, it is unlikely that residents and commuters will feel its benefits before the second half of 2023.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 13 crore, is meant to revamp the 2.5km section of MG road between Sikanderpur metro station and IFFCO Chowk, which houses two busy metro stations of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)’s Yellow Line, as well as several offices, malls and gated societies.
The stretch, officials said, was transferred from HSVP to GMDA when the latter was formed. GMDA had undertaken special repairs of the road’s main carriageway in 2019.
Noting the fact that the infrastructure catering to pedestrians and cyclists along the stretch is insufficient, GMDA planned the streetscaping project and tabled it in a meeting of the CPC in October last year.
The project involves the construction of a cycle track, footpaths and tabletop crossings to facilitate movement of pedestrians and cyclists across the road, as well as an increase in green spaces.
Furthermore, seating spaces will also be provided, along with streetlights for pedestrians. In addition, signboards as well as road safety furniture like bollards and rumble strips will also be installed.
Residents, although welcoming the project, expressed frustration at the delay.
“MG Road has next to no infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, which also adds to the chaos on the main carriageway since that is where they are forced to commute alongside motorists. This GMDA project is much needed, but we have been reading and hearing about it for a long time without seeing any action on the ground. The authorities need to figure out where they are going wrong in their tendering and rectify the situation quickly so that the work can be expedited. There is no point making grand plans if they just remain on paper,” said Arjun Sabarwal, who works at a bank located along the stretch.