Gurgaon Infrastructure Gaps Exposed By Rain Claiming Lives And Raising Concerns
In a stark reminder of poor urban resilience, roads in multiple parts of Gurgaon including Sector 23, 23A, and stretches near Krishna Chowk have disintegrated following the season’s first heavy downpour. Despite claims of pre-monsoon repairs by the GMDA, the newly recarpeted surfaces are now marred by potholes, cracks, and exposed gravel—triggering outrage among commuters and residents. The damage not only reveals shoddy workmanship but also raises questions over the durability and accountability of civic repair contracts.
The Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), which claimed to have repaired over 95 km of city roads before the rains, now finds itself facing a deluge of complaints. Residents point out that major stretches, including those near Manipal Hospital and Sushil Aima Marg, were re-laid just weeks ago, yet have already begun to crumble. “It’s as though the repairs were merely to impress the public before monsoon. One downpour, and the cracks turned to craters,” said a commuter from Palam Vihar. In December 2024, GMDA sanctioned over ₹24 crore for the repair of the master road dividing Sectors 23 and 23A. However, within days of recarpeting, the stretch transformed into a bottleneck, with loose asphalt, standing water, and unaddressed drainage issues compounding traffic woes.
The situation is equally grim in Sectors 9 and 9A, where residents report that bitumen applied last month has already worn off. Daily traffic is snarled along key junctions due to sudden surface degradation, making routes unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Critics have labelled the repairs “temporary showpieces” lacking proper structural integrity or waterproofing. “The problem is systemic—no quality checks, no drainage solutions, and absolutely no accountability,” said a representative from a local residents’ welfare association. Further compounding the issue is the delayed and sluggish pace of repair work. According to a senior GMDA official, contractors were instructed to fix damaged stretches immediately. However, notices issued by the authority admit that work began much later than scheduled, and progress has remained “extremely slow.” The completed portions, meanwhile, are reportedly “wearing out fast.”
What was supposed to be a preventive repair campaign now appears to be a short-lived patch job. As monsoon intensifies, residents fear more sections will fall apart, increasing the risk of accidents, traffic blockades, and further public discontent. With public patience wearing thin and civic credibility on the line, Gurgaon’s unfolding road crisis underscores a deeper need for sustainable, durable infrastructure planning backed by timely execution and contractor accountability. Until then, cosmetic fixes may continue to come undone with every raincloud.
