Gurgaon: Air quality is down to ‘very poor' on most days and stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb pollution is in effect across NCR. Yet, construction debris and mounds of raw material are lined along a road between sectors 106 and 109, leaving the area under a thick layer of dust.
Residents told TOI that work to recarpet the master road dividing the two sectors came to a grinding halt as pollution-control measures under GRAP came into effect.
The contractor hired by GMDA to repair the road followed the construction ban, but neither of them bothered to pick up the soil, or at the very least, cover it, as GRAP rules mandate.
"Why should residents suffer because of the callous attitude of GMDA and its contracting agency? The road is already filled with potholes, and the debris lying around makes it even harder to navigate. The dust from the construction material is unbearable. It's affecting our health and daily lives. They have left the area in utter chaos and worsened our living conditions," said Pravin Kaushal, who lives in a nearby society just off the Dwarka Expressway.
The road, initially built by HSVP in 2014, was handed over to GMDA in 2018. It remained as it was – damaged and pothole-ridden -- for almost a decade. Earlier this year, GMDA in Jan awarded a Rs 14.3 crore contract to redevelop this 1.8km stretch. The project to improve the 12.5m-wide road included construction of a central verge, a drain network, a footpath and revamp of intersections. Nov was set as the deadline, but work didn't start till May, delaying progress.
"This road was already in bad shape. Now, with construction work dragging on, it's become impossible to drive. Forget about walking alone over here. Vehicles are getting damaged due to the uneven surface and potholes. Moreover, there is no effort to control dust and the agency is openly flouting pollution control regulations. I don't know how long we have to struggle with sheer negligence on the part of GMDA and its agency, both of which have not ensured timely completion," Pinky Yadav, another resident, said.
A GMDA official on Tuesday acknowledged that the road repair project was delayed. He cited monsoon and GRAP restrictions for the delays.
"Drainage work has been completed, while crash barriers on the central verge are being installed. Road recarpeting work can be taken up after GRAP restrictions are lifted. We are hoping to complete the work by Feb next year," the official said.
Asked why the construction material was lying uncovered along the road, the official said "it cannot be lifted as it has to be used at the site. But direction has been issued to the agency (contractor) to ensure water sprinkling there".
Residents alleged the situation was similar at other inter-sector roads, which were being repaired as well. These include roads for sectors 102-102A, 102A-103, and 103-106. In these cases too, less than half of the work has been completed and the deadline has been shifted to next year.
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