Gurgaon: Haryana govt has given the go-ahead to a crucial road project that has remained stalled for nearly a decade. The widening of the arterial road connecting Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway with Naurangpur is finally set to begin, with chief minister Nayab Singh Saini approving the proposal for construction of the master road between sectors 78 and 80.The work is expected to commence in the first week of Aug after the project is awarded to a contractor, officials said. The project — costing Rs 29 crore — includes a six-lane main carriageway, service roads on both sides, a central verge, footpaths and roadside surface drains to improve stormwater management. The main carriageway will be 9.9 metres wide, while each service road will measure 5.5 metres. Officials said the project is expected to take at least two years to complete.The 2.4-km road links Naurangpur with Rampura Chowk on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and serves as the primary access route for residents of sectors 78, 79 and 80. Despite being critical arteries, the existing road is only about 5.5 metres wide, resulting in frequent traffic bottlenecks, safety concerns and long delays as vehicular movement increased rapidly over the years. Under the approved plan, the corridor will be developed with an 84-metre right of way. The stretch also carries heavy traffic bound for Tauru and Nuh, making it one of the busiest connecting roads along the NH8 corridor.The decision was taken at a meeting of the high-powered purchase works committee held late on Monday evening. Officials said the project is expected to substantially improve connectivity between the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and the rapidly developing residential sectors in New Gurgaon while easing traffic movement towards Tauru and Nuh.A senior GMDA official told TOI, “The govt has granted the financial approval for the project. We will now award the work to the agency. Once completed, the widened road will improve connectivity to the new sectors. At present, the road is narrow, with some stretches reducing to just five metres in width. It will now be developed into a six-lane corridor. The issue of waterlogging will also be addressed through the construction of surface drains.”Residents have welcomed the govt’s decision, saying the widening was long overdue. Dhirender Singh, a resident of Mapsko Mount Ville, said the existing road infrastructure has failed to keep pace with rapid urban development in the area. “The project has been pending for years. People have been allowed to move into these sectors, but the road was never upgraded, causing daily inconvenience. With more residential projects coming up, the road is in a very poor condition and sees heavy movement of dumpers, creating traffic and dust pollution. It is good that the work will finally begin, but the authorities must ensure it is completed within the stipulated timeline,” Singh said.The road upgrade remained in limbo for years despite the alignment being finalised and land compensation being awarded in 2016. The project was delayed due to encroachments along the proposed alignment and administrative hurdles. A breakthrough came last year when authorities removed illegal structures obstructing the alignment and completed the demarcation of the right of way, clearing the path for the long-delayed redevelopment.
