Risky drive in the dark for Gurgaon residents as municipal corporation, contractors fight over dues

Residents’ welfare associations across the city have raised concerns over the strike by private contractors of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon responsible for maintaining streetlights. The contractors went on strike last Wednesday as the corporation has not paid them for nearly eight months.

Residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) across the city have raised concerns over the strike by private contractors of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon responsible for maintaining streetlights. The contractors went on strike last Wednesday as the corporation has not paid them for nearly eight months.

More than 15,000 of the 40,000 streetlights in the city are defunct for nearly two weeks and the contractors have refused to repair them till the MCG makes the payment. (HT File Photo)

More than 15,000 of the 40,000 streetlights in the city are defunct for nearly two weeks and the contractors have refused to repair them till the MCG makes the payment. Also, the contractors have stopped switching on lights in the evening.

So only nearly 10,000 lights on main roads are functional while the rest are either defunct or are not switched on at night.

The RWAs in the city are worried about the situation as dark roads have led to security concerns.

Contractors claimed that they approached senior officials of the MCG and offered help during the chaos unleashed in the city by rain on Thursday and Friday, but they did not consider their request. The contractors alleged that officials are not worried that most of the streetlights in the city are not operational.

Rajesh Mehta, treasurer, contractor welfare association, MCG, said, “I called the additional commissioner of the MCG Amit Khatri and offered help during the waterlogging crisis. But they did not accept my request and did not even call us for a meeting.”

The additional commissioner, however, refuted the allegation and said, “I received a call but they did not offer to work for free. I called them for a meeting but they never turned up.”

Naresh Munjal, vice president of the contractor welfare association, MCG, said the civic body owes `40 crore to the contractors.

“We have asked authorities to release the money, but they are not doing it. We have no option but to sit on strike outside the MCG office. It is a do-or-die situation for us,” he said.

Munjal said with no funds, the contractors are finding it very difficult to work.

“We have no funds to buy the required material, which is affecting the work. Also, we are unable to pay our employees,” he said.

With Gurgaon plunging into darkness, commuters are having a tough time driving in the city. Residents say many roads in new sectors and extension roads have steep turns and slopes, which make them accident-prone areas.

Ajay Pandita, a resident of Valley View Estate, said, “The Gurgaon-Faridabad road has several deep curves. Poor lighting on this stretch is a major security hazard and safety concern for the commuters. There is an urgent need to ensure proper lighting on this road.”

The road connects the Gurgaon-Faridabad road to the Golf Course Extension road going towards Badshahpur, Sohna and new areas of Gurgaon. It is used by motorists coming and going to Faridabad as it connects to south Gurgaon, Sohna, Manesar, Dharuhera, Sohna Road and NH-8.

Joginder Singh, former president of the Sector 57 RWA, said, “It is so dark in our sector that most people carry torches. We are worried that if the strike continues, more lights will stop working due to no maintenance.”