Gurugram MLA seeks defence ministry nod for elevated road, Air Force gate

The memorandum also sought faster decisions on reopening a key access route and appointing a nodal officer to coordinate pending clearances.

Published on: Jun 29, 2026, 03:46:10 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Gurugram MLA Mukesh Sharma met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Sunday, seeking the Centre’s intervention on three long-pending issues: the 900-metre restricted zone around the Gurugram-Faridabad ammunition depot, a proposed elevated road from CRPF Chowk to Kamdhenu Gaushala, and the reopening of the Air Force gate between Sectors 17A and 17B. Sharma submitted a memorandum urging the defence ministry to expedite decisions while keeping national security paramount.

Sharma (left) told Singh (right) restrictions continue to delay civic works, property registrations and statutory approvals in several affected localities. (HT)

In the restricted zone, Sharma noted the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently observed that the earlier notification under Section 3 of the Works of Defence Act, 1903, had ceased to be effective, and the Centre could issue a fresh notification based on present-day requirements. He said restrictions continue to affect residents of Sectors 14, 17 and 18, parts of Sectors 5 and 12A, Old DLF Colony, Dharam Colony, Carterpuri, Rajiv Nagar, Sanjay Gram, Sukhrali Enclave, Ashok Vihar Phase III, the Sheetla Devi Temple area, Amanpura and parts of the Maruti Industrial Area. “Residents continue to pay property tax, electricity and sewerage charges but remain deprived of civic amenities and development works. Property registrations and statutory approvals have also been adversely affected,” Sharma said.

The restricted zone around the Indian Air Force ammunition depot has been a contentious civic issue for over two decades. Although the Centre reduced the no-construction zone from 900 metres to 300 metres following expert recommendations, land use, property rights and development issues remain unresolved.

Sharma sought defence clearance for the proposed elevated road on Old Najafgarh Road, saying it would ease congestion on Sheetla Mata Road and cut travel time from about 90 minutes to 15 minutes. He suggested appointing a nodal officer to coordinate with the Haryana government, GMDA and other agencies. The elevated road project has remained pending for years, with clearances from multiple agencies still awaited, and no official update on cost, funding or timeline was issued after the meeting.

He also sought reopening of the Air Force gate through controlled access, citing longer commutes and congestion. The gate connecting New Palam Vihar with the Delhi-Gurugram road has been closed to civilian traffic for years over security concerns. While Rajnath Singh heard the issue, no official assurance or timeline was given by the defence ministry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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