Latest news with #GMDA
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
GMDA must meet at least once a month, not once or twice a year, says Rao Inderjit Singh
Gurgaon: GMDA was established to emulate the Noida Authority model as a centralised body that would steer the city's development, Union minister and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh said at TOI's #WeMakeGurgaon Townhall on Saturday. "Despite the intention of creating a one-window powerhouse, the existence of both the municipal corporation and GMDA, according to Singh, resulted in a lack of clarity regarding their respective areas of influence and administration. Conceived as a Noida Authority-like body, GMDA doesn't function as one. Formed in 2018, the development authority is now seven years old, so there's been enough time to steer it in the direction of its purpose. But the state govt has not quite been able to take it there. One of the main criticisms of GMDA is that its execution is slow and its contributions to the city's infrastructure improvements not very apparent. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Singh said when GMDA was formed, its CEO was allowed to sanction only projects up to Rs 50 lakh. Only recently, it was enhanced to Rs 2.5 crore. "The power of the MCG house (to sanction projects) was earlier Rs 2 crore only and now it has become Rs 10 crore. If you have a project which is over Rs 10 crore, it has to go to the minister, and if it is over Rs 25 crore, to the high-powered purchase committee sitting in Chandigarh. Now, this is a remote-controlled administrative setup with which I am not really very happy," said Singh, referring to the slowness of project execution in Gurgaon. In Noida, he added, Noida Authority operates through a single-window system. But Gurgaon is hobbled by multiple agencies, creating a complex administrative structure. Noida manages licences for residential colonies and plotted areas, while in Gurgaon, developers independently acquire land from farmers, aggregate it and then seek licences from the town and country planning department, said the minister, pointing out structural flaws in Gurgaon's governance. "Persistent flooding in Gurgaon stems from developers incorporating perennial waterways into their projects and constructing buildings upon them. With these natural water channels obstructed, water seeks alternative paths, resulting in widespread flooding throughout the city," he said. "Steps are being taken to establish a unified authority for issuing licences. There are concerns that the next developing city might face similar challenges as Gurgaon. It is crucial to avoid replicating the mistakes made in Gurgaon's development process in future urban expansion projects," he added. Singh also pointed out that GMDA has a meeting once a year or perhaps twice a year, which is not enough. "I mean, Gurgaon is generating so many problems every day. This is something that I'm trying to ask the chief minister to do. The GMDA meeting should not be held six-monthly. It should at least be held once a month. Even if the chief minister, who is the head of GMDA, cannot come, at least the officers should all convene once a month here in Gurgaon," said Singh.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Drain damaged, NHAI warns of waterlogging at Gurgaon's CD Chowk
Gurgaon: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has raised concerns over GMDA's construction of a foot overbridge near CD Chowk. The authority said uncoordinated construction activities had damaged 30 metres of existing infrastructure, including an RCC drain, pedestrian railing, and footpath. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With the site remaining unattended and lacking safety measures, NHAI has highlighted the risk of water infiltration into the damaged drain, particularly concerning the forecast of heavy rain. The authority emphasised increased risks of waterlogging and accidents in the area, which experiences heavy footfall during the kanwar yatra. NHAI said that the design of the FOB was to be vetted by IIT before execution, but it remains pending. Despite this, GMDA proceeded and began foundation work. "This is a direct violation of the MoU," the NHAI letter stated, written last week, adding that GMDA also overlooked other conditions related to safeguarding existing infrastructure, ensuring smooth traffic flow, and implementing proper site safety. On July 9, Sohna Road was among the worst-hit areas, with people forced to wade through waist-deep water. A 27-year-old auto rickshaw driver lost his life after falling into an uncovered sewer on a flooded road in Sector 49, which is less than a kilometre away from the construction site.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Hundreds of vehicles get stuck in massive traffic jam in Gurgaon, netizens compare it to Bengaluru
A video of a traffic-choked road in Gurgaon has caught the Internet's attention, triggering widespread reactions. The footage showcases the daily ordeal of commuters stuck in heavy traffic during rush hours, a sight that stunned many users. However, some users, in the comments, shared that they have grown used to it. The now-viral video, reportedly filmed near Cyber Hub in Gurgaon's Sector 24, shows hundreds of vehicles crawling along a busy highway, barely moving forward. The footage has racked up over half a million views, along with thousands of likes and comments across social media. Sharing the video, an Instagram handle @nomadic_ankit_ wrote, 'Ab fark nahi padta (It doesn't bother anymore)' with 'Ab toh aadat see hai mujhko aise jeene ki,' playing in the background, a line from a popular Bollywood song that loosely translates to, 'Now I've gotten used to living like this.' Watch the viral video here: A post shared by Ankit Tiwari (@nomadic_ankit_) While many viewers were shocked by the extent of the congestion, others shared hilarious reactions. 'Problem is people made this norm. No one's complaining to the government,' a user wrote. 'Most of the people don't have driving sense….and create chaos,' another user commented. 'Why is it not mandatory for organizations having more than say 200 employees to have atleast one bus service,' a third user reacted. 'What Gurgaon needs is, a metro that connects huda to igi and a bridge that takes people coming from Gurgaon to expressway directly without cybercity traffic. That bottleneck/ curve is a nightmare,' a fourth user said. 'So true, the condition is very bad here. Giving a tough competition to Bangalore,' another user chimed in. Recently, heavy rainfall in Gurgaon severely affected the city's road infrastructure, leaving several major routes damaged. Among the worst-affected are two key roads managed by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), which developed deep potholes and visible cracks after the downpour, the reports said.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Cars as far as the eye can see: Viral video shows Gurgaon's jam-packed roads, internet says ‘better than Bengaluru'
A video showing roads packed with vehicles in Gurgaon has surfaced online. The footage capturing the daily grind of the commuters has shocked many, but some claimed they're numb to the traffic mess. A few also compared it to traffic in Bengaluru, arguing that the condition is worse in the Silicon Valley of India. Snippets from a video showing roads packed with cars in Gurgaon. (Instagram/@nomadic_ankit) 'Ab fark nahi padta (It doesn't matter anymore),' Instagram user Ankit Tiwari wrote while posting the video. The footage shows hundreds of cars across a stretch of highway in Gurgaon. The cars move slowly, navigating through the traffic. Take a look at the video: What did social media say? 'After some point, adding lanes is not the solution,' an individual posted, referencing how all the lanes in the video are packed with cars. Another added, 'Thodi barish aur ho jaye... phir dekho jaam.' Last week, heavy rainfall in different parts of Gurgaon caused severe waterlogging. A few residents claimed they came home to find water inside their apartments. Visuals of cars trying to cross water-filled roads also made their way to social media. 'The problem is that people made this norm. No one's complaining,' a third expressed. A fourth wrote, 'Still better than Bangalore!!' Traffic woes in Gurgaon: The heavy rainfall that lashed Gurgaon a few days ago caused severe damage to certain roads in the city. Two key roads of the region, maintained by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), formed potholes and cracks following the downpour. It triggered congestion and left commuters frustrated. 'Vehicles can't move at more than 10 kmph on this road, and this has led to heavy congestion since the road got damaged. We are trying to manage the situation, but the road needs immediate repair,' a traffic police told A resident who has a shop in Sector 22 shared how damages to Major Sushil Aima Road, which connects Palam Vihar with Old Delhi Road and links Old Gurugram to Dwarka Expressway, affected daily life. 'Around half a kilometre of this road from Sector 22 market to the petrol pump is badly damaged. The drain has not been cleared in 10 years, but no corrective measures have been taken.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
25 months & counting, revamp of 1.4km Southern Peripheral Road link not complete in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: Residents and commuters are bearing the brunt of poor road conditions following delay in a key Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) link project. GMDA — which initially set a deadline of 12 months when the road work commenced in June 2023 — is now hoping to wrap up the work by Aug. More than two years after work began to upgrade the 1.4km stretch between AIT Chowk and SPR, the project is yet to be completed. Officials have attributed the delay to drainage work undertaken by another division of the metropolitan authority. The road upgradation project, pegged at Rs 9.8 crore, includes overlaying the main carriageway, constructing service roads on both sides, laying surface drains and building footpaths and cycle tracks. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon After initial groundwork began in 2023, the road revamp work was stalled in Jan 2024 when GMDA's Infra Division-II started a parallel drainage project along the same corridor. Work on the drainage faced multiple setbacks due to the shifting of underground utilities, electric poles and weather-related disruptions, especially during the monsoon. The crossing of the drainage line to SPR was only completed recently, the official added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo With drainage work — separately budgeted at Rs 3.9 crore — now complete, GMDA officials say the pace of construction has picked up. Meanwhile, for residents, the delay has meant two years of living with dust, deteriorating access and daily inconvenience. Residents allege GMDA failed to plan the overlapping projects in a synchronised manner. RWA president of Sushant Lok 2 and 3 Pawan Yadav said, "It has been more than two years, but the revamp of a mere 1.4km road is not completed. If one division knew drain was pending, why was road work initiated without resolving that first? There should be accountability. " According to GMDA officials, drainage, footpaths, a cycle track and about 1km of service road on the right side of the carriageway have been completed. On the other side, 700 metres of the service road have been laid with Wet Mix Macadam, while work on the footpath and cycle track is nearing completion."We have set a target of Aug and efforts are being made to complete it at the earliest. But bituminous work is weather-sensitive and progress depends on conducive conditions," the official added.
