GMDA identifies 30 waterlogging spots in Gurugram ahead of monsoon: Officials

GMDA CEO Sudhir Rajpal held a review meeting in this regard on Tuesday with the district administration officials and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, and confirmed that the government and citizens’ group IAmGurgaon are working on resolving the city’s waterlogging problems

As part of its monsoon preparedness, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) identified 30 critical locations across the city, including the service road in Narsinghpur along the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Mini Secretariat, Hero Honda Chowk, Golf Course Road and Sheetla Mata Road, where waterlogging was reported in the past to resolve the issue, said officials on Tuesday.

Waterlogging is a major problem in the city during the monsoon, and it severely affects vehicular movement. (Vipin Kumar /HT PHOTO)

Waterlogging is a major problem in Gurugram during the monsoon, with master roads, arterial roads, underpasses and highways, getting submerged in rainwater for hours, severely affecting vehicular movement.

GMDA chief executive officer (CEO) Sudhir Rajpal held a review meeting in this regard on Tuesday with officials of the district administration and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), and confirmed that the government and citizens’ group IAmGurgaon are working on resolving the city’s waterlogging problems.

“We aim to take effective measures before the monsoon season begins. There has been much progress in the areas where waterlogging was a concern and they will be inspected again. Suitable action plans are being proposed and work will be completed before the onset of the rainy season,” said Rajpal.

Officials said that a flood control office will also be set up at the GMDA’s integrated control and command centre where officials from the technical engineering department, MCG officials and police teams will monitor the waterlogging situation from June to August, and will act on citizens’ complaints.

An additional high-power pump with a larger capacity and a sump for water collection will be readied on the stretch between Narsinghpura Road and Khandsa Chowk, a key waterlogging point in the city, to provide temporary relief. “This will be the way forward till a permanent solution of making a master drain,” said officials.

To prevent waterlogging in the low-lying area of the Laxman Vihar-Sector 4 dividing road near Surya Vihar, the CEO directed MCG to start work on constructing a drain.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been assigned to look into waterlogging at Umang Bhardwaj Chowk on priority by creating the master drain first, ahead of the upgradation and widening of roads that are underway on this stretch.

“Keeping in view the past events of waterlogging in underpasses, arrangements are being made to address the issue and mock drills will also be conducted in May to check preparedness. Rectification of the master drainage will be undertaken around sectors 9 and 9A and completed before the monsoon. The ongoing maintenance work at sectors 66-67 is also likely to be completed ahead of the rainy season,” added Rajpal.