Gurgaon: The air at The Times of India’s #WeMakeGurgaon Townhall in Gurgaon was buzzing with anticipation, energy, and most importantly, hope on Saturday. For residents of the Dwarka Expressway area, the new sectors and new townships like Indiabulls Centrum Park, the presence of Union Minister and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh in their midst made them feel their voices would finally pierce the curtain of indifference that seems to be drawn around, saddling them with problems ranging from the lack of public transport to water. It helped that Singh strode into the town hall more as the local MP who was there not just to speak but to listen, approachable to anyone who walked up and started a conversation. “This townhall was the best platform for our voices to reach the authorities that people living in the newly developed areas around Dwarka Expressway have ever got,” said Ambrish Ranjan, president of the RWA at Indiabulls Centrum Park, the venue for the event.His words captured what many felt: a sense that their voices were finally echoing beyond WhatsApp groups and complaint portals and into actual policy corridors. “Today, we witnessed democracy in action, which is transparent, accountable and inclusive,” added Saurav Chaudhary, general secretary of the same RWA. Indeed, the minister not only heard every concern patiently but also assured residents that he would take up each issue with the appropriate authorities and push for timely action.Singh’s frankness helped as he acknowledged the limitations of centralised governance from Chandigarh and promised to work towards stronger autonomy for Gurgaon. His openness, particularly as he mentioned Gurgaon’s contributions to the state’s revenue and the mismatch in attention it receives in return, struck a chord with everyone in the crowd.“Moments like these remind us that democracy thrives when leaders and citizens come together,” said Vikas Goyat, a local resident. For others, it wasn’t just what the minister said, but the fact that he showed up in their housing society that really mattered. “This was a rare yet refreshing example of a govt representative being present, responsive and people-centric,” noted resident Tushar Lahiri.He added, “At a time when urban frustration often boils over in silence, this event stood out as a bright spot, proving that when governance meets ground reality, it creates something powerful. And that is called trust.”
