Malibu Town residents protest after traffic police closes entry to society

More than 200 residents stopped on Saturday the ongoing construction of the pavement and threatened to stage a protest. The work was postponed till a meeting of the residents and senior officials takes place on Monday.

Updated on: Oct 14, 2017, 22:38:04 IST

Hindustan Times | By Leena Dhankhar, Gurgaon

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Tension prevailed in Malibu Town for more than two hours on Saturday after the traffic police closed the society’s entry from Sohna Road and asked Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) officials to construct a pavement there to avoid merging of traffic on the main carriageway.

The traffic police blocked the Malibu Town’s direct access to Sohna Road and asked the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to construct pavement there. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Now, residents will have to take a right after the exit and take a U-turn, about 100 metres ahead, to merge with the main Sohna Road. Earlier, residents were able to directly enter Sohna Road.

More than 200 residents stopped on Saturday the ongoing construction of the pavement and threatened to stage a protest. The work was postponed till a meeting of the residents and senior officials takes place on Monday.

The residents alleged that they were shocked to see the sudden change in route and immediately informed the residents’ welfare association members who gathered outside the entrance. The station house officer (SHO) rushed to the spot and tried to convince the residents to disperse, but they were adamant and refused to move.

The residents alleged that if the pavement is constructed, they would have no direct access to the residential complex and will have to spend more time on the road as the service lane is narrow and congested.

“If the traffic police blocks the gap in the median,then we will block the busy stretch on Monday and we will not let the work go on. Using the service lane will result in traffic congestion and accidents,” claimed Alka Dalal, former RWA president.

The township is spread across 210 acres and was established in 1999.

“This is the only main entry to the township and if the traffic police wanted to construct a pavement there, it should have informed the RWA and taken its consent. How can they start work and block the main entrance without notice?” said Rakesh Singh, RWA president.

RWA members alleged that the officials should have provided an alternative plan and should have informed the residents.

On the other hand, traffic officials said the main entrance was blocked to decongest the stretch as accidents were common there when the traffic merged with that on the main carriageway.

“We have planned and blocked the main entrance towards the Sohna Road after several inspections to ensure smooth traffic movement and to avoid further accidents,” said DCP (Traffic) Simardeep Singh.

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