Gurgaon: Garden Ville residents pool money to get roads built - Hindustan Times
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Gurgaon: Garden Ville residents pool money to get roads built

Hindustan Times | By, Gurgaon
Feb 20, 2017 10:31 AM IST

After a decade-long wait in the hope that the authorities will address their plight some day, the residents of Garden Ville, an upscale residential area in DLF City Phase 4, spread across 15 acres, took the onus on themselves to get roads laid in their colony.

After a decade-long wait in the hope that the authorities will address their plight some day, the residents of Garden Ville, an upscale residential area in DLF City Phase 4, spread across 15 acres, took the onus on themselves to get roads laid in their colony.

Residents claimed they paid nearly Rs 37 lakh of the total cost of Rs 40 lakh spent on relaying the roads.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)
Residents claimed they paid nearly Rs 37 lakh of the total cost of Rs 40 lakh spent on relaying the roads.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

The residents who live in about 134 houses in the area decided to pool funds and hired contractors to get new roads laid in their colony last month. Each resident contributed 1 lakh to the cause.

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The cost of the roads was Rs 40 lakh and residents said nearly Rs 37 lakh was paid by them.

Though the developer, DLF, claimed to have contributed a lump sum to the cause, residents voiced doubts about the same. They said since the developer is responsible for the proper upkeep of the residential area, they should have done a lot more than make a token contribution for building roads in the area.

Residents said they had enough of the developer and the civic agencies dragging their feet in the matter and decided to take the onus on themselves.

“After several rounds of meetings with the developer and the civic agencies came to nought, we decided to take matters in our hands. We pooled money to have new roads laid in our area. We were told we have to contribute financially if we want roads made. Though the developer had sanctioned Rs 2 crore, the amount was distributed among all the (DLF) phases and only a fraction of it was allotted for our colony. The road condition, which was already bad, only gets worse during the rainy season and the residents, especially the elderly, find it difficult to navigate these roads riddled with potholes. We couldn’t take this anymore and hence, decided to pool in,” an elderly resident said.

The 40 families residing in the area voiced their misgivings with the authorities claiming that the needs of the residents are largely ignored by the developer as is evidenced by the lack of adequate drinking water supply and street lights. They said they pleaded with the authorities and even submitted a raft of memorandums highlighting their plight, but nothing happened.

Birj Mohan Mehta, a resident, said, “Since I didn’t pay a single penny to the developer, they left the road outside my door in a shambles. The roads here are fraught with risks for my family, especially during the rainy season, as they are badly damaged and rainwater fills the potholes. Many of us have sustained injuries and youths even fell off their bikes after their two-wheelers skidded off the roads. It seems the authorities just don’t care.”

The colony was built in 2009 in a location considered one of the best in the city, but the authorities failed to ensure proper maintenance. Despite allotment of land, not one road was built, claimed the residents.

“The children can’t play in the colony and neither can they ride bicycles on these roads. They lead to heavy waterlogging and accidents. There are nine lanes in the area and all are in a shambles,” Mehta said.

JK Gadhok, another resident, said, “We bought our land from the DLF and it was their responsibility to build roads. Though many residents contributed Rs 1 lakh each, I didn’t. We pay our taxes and also pay for more maintenance and I couldn’t see why I should fork out more to get roads built.”

The residents vowed to boycott elections till such time their demands are met. “Why should we vote when we pay for our roads and drinking water supply? What’s the need for elected representatives if they can’t take care of us? We can take care of our needs,” Mehta said.

The MCG said the area has not been taken over by the civic body yet and so the responsibility lies on the developer. “We will start the work once we take over the area. We have the list of work to be done once the take over formality is done” said YS Gupta, joint commissioner MCG

A DLF spokesperson denied the allegations, saying, “We allotted the money and got the roads constructed.”

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Leena Dhankhar has worked with Hindustan Times for five years. She has covered crime, traffic and excise. She now reports on civic issues and grievances of residents.

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