Gurgaon: Residents want encroachments off Golf Course Extension Road removed

Residents said due to the encroachment on sidewalks, they often have to risk walking on the main road where the vehicles ply at high speed

Large chunks of government land off Golf Course Extension Road have allegedly been encroached on by roadside shops, eateries, liquor vends and plant nurseries, leading to congestion in peak traffic hours.

Government land off Golf Course Road has been encroached on by eateries, shops and nurseries. (Rahul Grover/HT PHOTO)

Since the stretch serves as a link road to several up and coming sectors, it remains congested during rush hours. Snarls on Gold Course Extension Road often have a knock-on effect, grounding traffic on the internal roads and Sohna Road and further compounding the woes of commuters.

Starting from Sector 62, the extension road has a width of 90 metres, including a green belt which could be used for expanding the road space should the volume of traffic increase.

However, residents said the green belt, an area held by the government, has been encroached on by more than 50 shops and nurseries for several years. They said the encroachments have reduced the road space by almost half.

“The entire green belt area and sidewalks on Golf Course Extension Road, from sectors 62-65, have been literally taken over by several nurseries and roadside eateries that have come up over the years. This leaves us with little choice than to risk walking on the main road where vehicles ply at high speed,” Varun Kumar, a resident of Sector 65, said.

Residents of the upscale Nirvana Country and sectors 57, 62, 65 and 71 claimed that despite several complaints to the authorities, the encroachments have not been removed. They said any further delay in acting against the encroachers could leave the authorities grappling with a law and order problem.

“These liquor shops, restaurants and nurseries have indeed encroached on the green belt. What adds to the daily hassle for commuters is that those who visit these eateries and nurseries, often park their vehicles on the main road, leaving little space for pedestrians. It also results in major snarls, during rush hours,” Ashok Kumar, a resident of Sector 66, said.

They said some locals visiting the nurseries park their cars in such a manner that it is difficult for commuters to even cross the stretch.

“Golf Course Extension Road is in a bad shape, with heavy volume of traffic, unauthorised parking on the main road and encroachments on government land. This is a major concern, as it not only chokes all sector roads but could also lead to law and order problems in the long run. The authorities need to act urgently before it’s too late,” Preeti Ahuja, a resident of Sector 62, said.

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Residents said with a large number of vehicles parked illegally roadside, mishaps are often reported on the stretch as well.

“Encroachments are being removed phase-wise in every sector and wherever the complaints come from. This matter has been brought to our notice and action will be taken. However, in many cases, the vends have permission from the authorities to operate,” a senior Huda official said.