Gurgaon: Residents to hold four-day protest against CNG pump near Sohna Road

Residents of nine condominiums on Sohna Road and sectors 49 and 50 will protest outside the South City 2 gate between 8:30am and 7pm for four days starting Thursday as their opposition to an upcoming CNG pump in the area has been ignored.

Residents of nine condominiums on Sohna Road and sectors 49 and 50 will hold a protest outside the South City 2 gate between 8:30am and 7pm for four days starting Thursday to oppose an upcoming CNG pump in the area.

Construction of the CNG station near Sohna Road has already started. According to residents, the land has been allotted on a narrow road and the pump will lead to traffic congestion. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

Construction of the pump in Sector 49 on a narrow, 30-metre stretch has been started despite residents contending that it will result in traffic congestion on the road. A group comprising members of various residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) met the deputy commissioner on Saturday and gave a representation against allocation of the site for the pump.

“The deputy commissioner has marked the Huda administrator to look into the matter as the land was allotted by Huda,” said Neeraj Yadav, president, South City 2 RWA.

Residents alleged that the site for the CNG pump is on a green belt and was allotted despite the authorities being aware of the narrowness of the road.

“RWA members of the affected areas vowed in one voice to adopt peaceful measures and rightful means to pursue the administration to relocate this under-construction CNG gas station, abiding by the course of law. It is shocking that the district administration got the same sanctioned despite the genuine complaints and grievances of residents,” said Ved Prakash Yadav, member, South City 2 RWA.

According to the residents, daily commuters will suffer the most if the CNG pump starts operations as the width of the stretch is only seven metres and the entry and exit gates of Sispal Vihar, South City 2, Malibu Towne and other residential societies will be blocked due to the traffic movement. It will also inconvenience those travelling from Sohna Road to Faridabad who pass through this heavily crowded stretch.

Brigadier (retired) S Dixit, general secretary, Sispal Vihar RWA, said, “We are not against the CNG pump, but the location on the 30-metre road is not fit for it. We will hold regular protests until the administration relocates it.”

The area does not have a CNG pump and those who want to fill their vehicles visit sectors 56 or 57. Residents said once the pump is operational there will be long lines of vehicles waiting at the pump, leading to traffic congestion.

“The pump will not only cause congestion on the road, but will impact the internal roads too. During peak hours, there is high traffic volume on this stretch and residents of nearby areas take this route to reach Sohna. It will take more than 40 minutes to cross the 100-metre stretch from South City 2 gate to Sohna Road (if the pump is made operational),” said Nilesh Tandon, president, Fresco Apartment RWA, Sector 50.

Residents on Saturday also submitted protest letters to the deputy commissioner, police commissioner, DCP Traffic, SHO, Sadar police station and administrator of Huda, Gurgaon. A copy was also sent to local ministers, the chief minister and the Prime Minister, they said.

“We have received the representation and are looking into the matter,” said a senior Huda official.