Gurgaon: Cracked tiles, broken edges, garbage piles, and construction debris—this is what most footpaths across the city look like. To address the issue GMDA plans to renovate nearly 35km of footpath from sectors 24 to 57. The upgrade includes revamping the drainage infrastructure, particularly in areas where it’s either missing or non-functional. The authority has completed detailed cost estimates and plans to initiate the tender process within two weeks.“Plans to lay out a proper drainage connectivity along these stretches will also be undertaken to prevent waterlogging,” a GMDA official said.Unlike earlier designs where concrete box-type drains were constructed underneath footpaths, the GMDA now plans to lay a pipeline-based drainage system to speed up the process. “We will lay a 1100 mm diameter pipeline for drainage, instead of constructing RCC box drains, which normally takes 28 days to cast. This approach will reduce the time needed for completion and offer better connectivity with the city’s main drain network,” the official added.This comes at a time when pedestrian infrastructure in several developed sectors—including along Subhash Marg and Vikas Marg, among others—has either deteriorated or disappeared due to neglect or illegal encroachments by street vendors and parking vehicles. Vineeta Khosla, RWA president of Greenwood City (C Block), said the absence of proper footpaths forces pedestrians to walk on busy roads. “We often see people, including children and the elderly, walking alongside speeding vehicles because footpaths have been severely damaged for the past two years. It’s dangerous. We have been raising the issue repeatedly,” she said.Residents have welcomed the move but urged the authority to ensure quality control and timely execution. “In some places, drain covers on footpaths are missing. Ideally, footpaths should be continuous, not obstructed by electricity or signage poles. Moreover, they should also be maintained regularly, not just revamped once and forgotten,” said Vijay Shiv Nath, secretary of the Malibu RWA Federation.
