Residents of Sector 5, one of Gurugram’s oldest residential neighbourhoods, have raised concerns over persistent civic issues, including waterlogging, deteriorating road infrastructure, poor sanitation, encroachment, and the stray dog menace, alleging that authorities have failed to provide long-term solutions.
Despite its status as a developed residential hub, locals said daily commuting remains difficult due to potholed roads, broken stretches, missing footpaths, and illegal garbage dumping. They added that repeated interventions by civic agencies have been temporary and ineffective.
“All these are temporary solutions, and we are tired of this. This is one of the oldest sectors of the city, yet its condition is in complete disrepair,” said PR Adlakha, RWA president of Sector 5.
Monsoon worsens waterlogging
Residents said the situation worsens significantly during monsoon and unseasonal rainfall, as the sector is located in a low-lying area. “The sector often gets waterlogged during heavy rainfall. Water levels can rise up to a foot, making it extremely difficult for residents to step out of their homes,” Adlakha said, adding that water flows into the area from the higher Sheetla Mata Mandir road.
He further alleged that drains remain choked due to irregular cleaning, leading to stagnant water and severe waterlogging. “The situation becomes so severe at times that we are forced to stay indoors, as stepping out is nearly impossible,” he said.
Sumita Kumari, a resident, said, “Rainwater accumulates on the roads, and it creates serious trouble for residents. Vehicles struggle to pass, and roads are deteriorating due to stagnant water. While we can see some unseasonal rains in Gurugram, the desilting work remains pending. There is no planning, no monsoon preparedness at all, and at the end it is us residents who face issues.”
In response, ward councillor Parminder Kataria said desilting was carried out around four months ago and would be taken up again before the monsoon. “The waterlogging issue in the sector is not solely due to drainage problems but also because the area is relatively low-lying,” he said.
Meanwhile, a junior MCG official said the civic body is identifying vulnerable points prone to waterlogging and will take action before the monsoon.
Broken roads, footpaths
Residents flagged the poor state of internal roads, citing potholes and uneven surfaces. While the main road was recently recarpeted, locals said several stretches have already deteriorated.
“Road infrastructure is a basic necessity… While some roads have been recarpeted, they quickly deteriorate again after the rains,” Kumari said.
Adlakha said footpaths are broken and unsafe. “Walking on these footpaths is risky—you can easily trip because many sections are broken and the tiles are damaged or missing in several places,” he said.
Ravi Katariya, another local, added that “pedestrians are forced onto roads due to missing footpaths, posing safety risks.”
An MCG junior official said tenders for internal roads have been floated and work will be completed before the monsoon, adding that roads will be constructed using ready-mix concrete (RMC), which is more durable in waterlogged conditions.
Katariya further alleged, “A ₹5 crore tender has been approved for recarpeting internal roads but work on the main road under GMDA has not started despite being scheduled two months ago.”
In response, Amit Godara, executive engineer at GMDA, said repair works have been expedited. “Patchwork is to be carried out on the main roads under GMDA. The work was halted due to unfavourable weather conditions; however, it will resume within this week,” he said.
Sanitation, encroachment, and parking issues
Residents alleged rampant illegal garbage dumping across the sector, including on roads, service lanes, vacant plots, and even the Ram Leela ground.
“The main stretch affected by illegal dumping is the Thana road… it emits a foul stench,” Katariya said. Residents said the issue persists due to both indiscriminate dumping by locals and lack of timely clearance by authorities.
Encroachment in the Sector 5 market has further compounded the problem, with hawkers and shopkeepers occupying pavements and roads. “You will find hawkers setting up carts on footpaths, while several shopkeepers have extended their establishments onto the roads,” Adlakha said, adding that this leads to congestion.
Illegal parking is also an issue due to a lack of designated spaces, which has also disrupted traffic flow, Katariya said. A senior official at MCG said that instances of illegal dumping in the area have been significantly curtailed. “However, efforts are ongoing, and teams have been deployed to monitor vulnerable sites. Necessary steps will be taken
Residents also flagged a growing stray dog menace, citing safety concerns, particularly for children and senior citizens.
“It has become a safety concern since dog bite cases have been reported… in large numbers,” said a resident requesting anonymity.
“Stray dogs have become a major concern… they often chase people,” Adlakha said.
Mohit, a junior engineer with MCG, said the issue is being addressed on a complaint-driven basis and that vaccination and sterilisation drives will be carried out in phases.
