GMDA takes onus to check flooding of underpasses

The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority will take over the drainage points on the road’s surface and the pump house being operated by the National Highways Authority of India in Sector 34.

To avert a recurrence of the flooding of the Hero Honda Chowk underpass, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has decided to take over the drainage points on the road’s surface and the pump house being operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Sector 34. On Tuesday morning, the underpass was flooded to the extent that it had to be closed to traffic.

The Signature Tower underpass would also be taken over by the GMDA for ensuring proper maintenance. (HT FIle Photo)

However, the authority will wait for the NHAI contractor to complete the civic works at four underpasses on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway before taking over maintenance.

“The surface drainage in this area would be taken over soon as it is critical to prevent waterlogging. Once the completion certificate is issued, the underpasses will be taken over,” said V Umashankar, chief executive officer (CEO), GMDA.

He also conceded that the flooding of the Hero Honda Chowk underpass should have been avoided.

Earlier in the day, the Gurugram district administration also supported the move saying that the GMDA would soon write to it seeking formal transfer of maintenance of the underpasses. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh confirmed the development and also outlined various measures to assess flood preparedness of the authorities concerned and ensure hassle-free movement of traffic in the city.

Singh said that since the district administration has to answer for any lapse at the underpasses, it was important that these were maintained by a local authority such as
GMDA.

“The liability for what happens at the underpasses will always rest with the district administration, and, hence, the responsibility for maintenance should also be ours,” said Singh, citing the public outcry over the flooding of the Hero Honda Chowk underpass.

NHAI also confirmed that they have already given its consent to the transfer of underpasses to the GMDA. “The consent was given by our headquarters and we have written to the GMDA saying that they are free to take over the maintenance of underpasses. We are ready hand over the custodianship of all underpasses, except the one at MG Road, as work is currently under way there,” Ashok Sharma, project director, NHAI, said.