A major dampener so far has been the delay in the completion of certain stretches (approximately 4 km out of the total 18 km) of Dwarka Expressway. About 400 families facing the threat of displacement had protested against the project.
The disputed sectors included New Palam Vihar sectors 100, 102 and 103 and the area around Khirki Dwala near NH8. HUDA had offered alternative plots in sectors 110A and 37C to the families following a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that the families be compensated.
While the Gurgaon administration claims that the issue has been sorted and plots will be handed over to the families in sectors 110 A and 37 C, the families have a different story to tell. “This is only on paper. The situation is still the same as before the judgment in May this year. The area where plots have been promised are still agricultural fields,” says Rishi Raj Rana, one of the petitioners before the HC and a Gurgaon municipal corporation councillor.
A stretch of about four kilometres of the expressway at New Palam Vihar and Sihi village gave rise to the dispute. Part of the Gurgaon-Manesar Master Plan 2031, the expressway was challenged by the affected residents. “Those making the master plan knew that the villages and the residential localities were coming in the way of this project. Yet, the plan was passed. It’s a clear violation by HUDA,” says Rana.
{{/usCountry}}A stretch of about four kilometres of the expressway at New Palam Vihar and Sihi village gave rise to the dispute. Part of the Gurgaon-Manesar Master Plan 2031, the expressway was challenged by the affected residents. “Those making the master plan knew that the villages and the residential localities were coming in the way of this project. Yet, the plan was passed. It’s a clear violation by HUDA,” says Rana.
{{/usCountry}}As for the 70-odd builder projects in the area, only a couple have been delivered till date. If the acquisition issued had been resolved earlier and seamless connectivity provided for, the area would have acted as an anchor and induced more end-users to move there much earlier.
A number of families have made investments in the area because of its potential. Nisha Sherawat moved into Atharva, a project by Rahejas located in sector 109 this year after coming to Delhi from Pune. She bought her 3BHK apartment in the resale market for around `1crore.
“The main reason for buying into this project was that my parents live in New Palam Vihar, which is a stone’s throw away (approximately a five-minute drive),” says Sherawat, who takes the airport express from the station located in Sector 21, Dwarka, to the Connaught Place area where she works.
“It takes around 20 to 25 minutes to reach the station from Sector 109,” she says, adding that around 40 families have already moved into the project.
Dr KK Mrig, a retired professor, moved into his apartment in Sector 108 last month. As far as basic necessities are concerned, he says, the nearest options available to him are located in New Palam Vihar.
“I am told that a grocery shop will soon open within the complex,” he says.
He does not find it that difficult to drive to Gurgaon or take a bus to Hisar, where his wife works.
“To take a bus I just have to go to the stop located on the 75 m road, barely 1.5 km (about eight minutes away) from the project site,” he says, adding that autorickshaws charge `30 to the main bus stand and `20 to the nearest railway station.
The nearest hospital in the area is Columbia Asia, located 6 km from the project site.