Gurgaon: Encroachments between Subhash Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk cleared

The MCG removed encroachments from the 3.5km stretch between the two major intersections of the city

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Friday conducted an anti-encroachment drive at the 3.5km stretch between Hero Honda Chowk and Subhash Chowk and the drain adjoining it.

On July 28 last year, breaches in the Badshahpur drain had led to a backflow towards Hero Honda Chowk and adjoining areas, inundating the area and bringing traffic to a halt. (Parveen Kumar/HT File Photo)

A year ago, the two intersections had been inundated by water from Badshahpur drain and traffic had come to a standstill at the two junctions during heavy rain.

The state government has this year made the MCG the nodal agency to address issues related to waterlogging. Hence, the municipal corporation has been clearing encroachments with an aim to streamline traffic movement and reduce burden on areas where waterlogging is causing snarls.

“The two junctions are on one of the most accessed roads in the city and commuters had been complaining of encroachments taking up a major portion of the main road and reducing the road width,” said SS Rohilla, spokesperson, MCG.

“The decreased space meant that commuters struggled to navigate their way through the junction. Hence, MCG carried out drives to clear the roads,” said SS Rohilla, spokesperson, MCG.

Rohilla added that encroachments by street vendors, slum dwellers and residents of nearby villages also took up space on the footpaths in these areas, forcing pedestrians to walk on the main road and face the risk of being hit by a speeding vehicle.

Last year, breaches in the Badshahpur drain had led to a backflow towards Hero Honda Chowk and adjoining areas. Such was the level of water that vehicles could not cross the stretch and were stuck for nearly 20 hours before traffic movement could be restored. Some people had even left their vehicles at the spot and taken off on foot.

On Monday, the MCG had also cleared a stretch on Jharsa Road through anti-encroachment drives to restore traffic flow.

The road had become non-operational as it had caved in at two points near the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway following leakage from a sewer line under it.

Residents who want to report encroachments can do so at the MCG’s toll free number 1800-180-1817.