Gurgaon: Poor lighting along a key stretch of Upper Dwarka Expressway has emerged as a safety concern for commuters and residents of sectors 99 to 109. Malfunctioning streetlights have been reported repeatedly over the past year. This, along with rough patches and poor maintenance, puts thousands at risk every day, residents said.Complaints are addressed from time to time, but the problem returns within days, they said, adding that as a result, motorists depend largely on vehicle headlights during night travel. Poor visibility increases the risk of accidents in these newly developed sectors.The stretch connects several high-density sectors and also carries heavy traffic from nearby villages and colonies. Residents said uneven surfaces and damaged patches add to the danger, especially during the monsoon.Ashok Dutta, president of Paras Dews in Sector 106, said inadequate lighting remains a persistent issue. “The stretch has uneven patches, and without proper lighting, this increases the risk of accidents. There is a higher risk of anti-social activities on the road due to poor visibility,” he said.Residents also pointed to confusion over responsibility. While the road falls under GMDA, HSVP maintains the streetlighting infrastructure. Residents said that this overlapping mandate led to a blame game, resulting in little sustained action on the ground.Alok Pandey, president of the RWA of Raheja Vedaanta, said repeated complaints have not brought lasting results. “We hope the authorities take swift corrective steps to restore proper lighting and ensure basic civic standards,” he said.Gursimron Singh of Adani Oyster in Sector 102 called for clear accountability. “There is a coordination gap among agencies,” he said.An HSVP official said the streetlights are generally functional and issues arise mainly due to temporary power disruptions. “The lights were installed around 13 to 14 years ago and are being maintained. Any upgrade would be undertaken by GMDA,” the official said.
