To avoid flooding at e-way junction, Badshahpur drain to get wider

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has decided to expand the Badshahpur drain at Hero Honda Chowk after the Haryana government recently pulled it up for the recurring problem of waterlogging at the expressway junction every monsoon.

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) has decided to expand the Badshahpur drain at Hero Honda Chowk after the Haryana government recently pulled it up for the recurring problem of waterlogging at the expressway junction every monsoon.

Whenever it rains in Gurgaon, commuters are stranded for hours as Hero Honda Chowk gets flooded. This is because the Badshahpur drain narrows near the junction, hampering the flow. (HT File Photo)

Whenever it rains in the city, commuters are stranded for hours as the junction gets flooded. This is because the capacity of the 26-km Badshahpur drain, which carries water from Ghata village to Najafgarh drain, reduces near Khandsa village, located near Hero Honda Chowk.

But the drain cannot be expanded in Khandsa village as land is not available. Huda has decided to expand it from NH8 to the Reliance Sez area. It will be aligned with the road. While the new alignment has considerably reduced the need for acquisition, there are three pockets of private land coming in the way.

“Our engineers have given us two options for the alignment of the drain — acquire two of the pockets or take HSIIDC land. We are considering both options,” said Anshaj Singh, who has recently taken over the development authority.

He also said the project will be finalised by next week and the expansion will be undertaken on priority.

Meanwhile, Huda has sent the expansion plan to its headquarters in Chandigarh. As land acquisition is likely to take time, Huda plans to give a loop to the drain as a temporary measure. This is likely to reduce the force of stormwater as it involves steep bends.

However, the expansion is subject to transfer of land by HSIIDC, verification of land by revenue officials and feasibility report by the department of town and country planning (DTP).

Meanwhile, commuters struggle to cross Hero Honda Chowk, which is riddled with large potholes. The service lane along the junction is also damaged.

One of the most congested bottlenecks on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, Hero Honda Chowk sees long traffic jams every day. Commuters spend over 30 minutes to cross the junction.