Roads in Gurgaon’s licensed colonies go missing under potholes

Roads in licensed colonies are in a bad condition but MCG says until sector transfer

A representation by residents of licensed colonies to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to repair roads that are in a bad condition has once again brought to the fore the confusion created by sector transfers.

The internal roads in Sushant Lok were last repaired six years ago, according to residents. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

The MCG said the licensed colonies are still with developers and, hence, legally, the corporation cannot repair the roads.

DLF Phases, Sushant Lok, Ardee City, Palam Vihar and South City are still private or licensed colonies controlled by the developers which built up these areas in the 1980s. They are yet to be handed over to the local body for civic maintenance.

The MCG has written to urban local bodies in this regard.

Anand Mohan Sharan, principal secretary, urban local bodies, said, “We are in the process of taking over licensed colonies in Gurugram. Legal procedures are being taken care of and, as soon as these procedures are complete, the colonies will be transferred to local body for repair of roads and civic maintenance.”

The residents, meanwhile, are left to drive on roads riddled with potholes. The condition of roads is especially bad in C Block Sushant Lok-I, where craters have developed.

AK Nagpal, president Sushant Lok residents’ welfare association, said, “Internal roads in Sushant Lok were repaired six years ago. Now many have developed huge potholes and commuting has become difficult. We blame the administration for this dilly dallying attitude. The Haryana CM in March 2016 had ordered the takeover of private colonies in whatever condition they are but the local body is not ready to do so.”

“In Ardee City, the roads and garbage collection are badly managed and residents are having a tough time,” said TN Kaul, a resident.

In August 2015, then FCR P Raghavendra Road had ordered that the transfer procedure of private colonies be expedited following a representation by a city councillor.

The first licence to any private developer was granted by the Haryana government in the early 1980s and since then hundreds of licences have been granted. But not a single colony has been transferred to the MCG so far.

“Residents in these private colonies are not happy with developers for the shoddy civic amenities, MCG collects property tax and it should extend civic maintenance also,” said RS Rathee, president Gurgaon Citizens’ Council.

“We have written to urban local bodies and are waiting for direction and we will do accordingly,” said V Umashankar, MCG Commissioner.