Gurugram Metro Work Moves Ahead After FOB Clearance
GURUGRAM: Two pedestrian foot overbridges (FOBs) standing in the planned alignment of the Old Gurugram Metro are set to be removed, clearing a key physical hurdle for construction between Umang Bhardwaj Chowk and the Basai area. The move could unlock work on a delayed stretch while also raising questions about pedestrian access and the need to restore safe crossings after construction.
The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has permitted Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) to dismantle the two structures near Basai Talab and Alpine School in Sector 10. The agency undertaking the metro work will bear the removal cost and is expected to preserve usable components for reconstruction later. The decision is significant because the two FOBs were originally built as part of road infrastructure along the corridor. Their removal reflects the growing overlap between Gurugram’s road expansion and mass-transit projects, where existing infrastructure increasingly has to be modified to accommodate new transport networks. For commuters, however, the transition period will matter as much as the construction itself. Removing pedestrian crossings without providing temporary alternatives could make road crossings more difficult, particularly for older people, children, persons with disabilities and workers travelling on foot. Urban planners generally view uninterrupted pedestrian access as a basic requirement when major transport corridors are redesigned.
The Old Gurugram Metro is also facing challenges beyond the two FOBs. Land requirements across parts of Kanhei, Islampur and Basai remain unresolved, while utility shifting is required along the Hero Honda Chowk–Umang Bhardwaj Chowk section. Several properties and a CNG facility are also reported to be affecting the proposed alignment. Another pending component is the metro depot, where construction has yet to begin. Electricity infrastructure also needs relocation before some sections can progress. These dependencies highlight a broader issue in large urban projects: construction speed often depends less on civil works than on timely coordination over land, utilities and existing public infrastructure. RERA does not directly govern the construction of this public metro corridor or the removal and rebuilding of government-owned pedestrian infrastructure.
Its relevance would arise only where a separately registered real estate project is involved. The metro’s progress, therefore, remains primarily a matter of public infrastructure planning, land coordination and statutory clearances. For Gurugram, the next priority will be ensuring that construction gains do not come at the expense of pedestrian safety or access. Rebuilding the FOBs after metro works, alongside coordinated utility and land clearances, will be important to delivering a more connected and resilient urban transport network.
