'Hope Dwarka Expressway will enhance social infrastructure'

Gurugram: With the works on the 29 kilometre Dwarka expressway expected to begin soon by the National Highway Authority of India, residents hope that it will also result in the speedy growth in the creation of social infrastructure that has been lacking in the place. The expectations of the residents have only risen as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is expected to take up this project. Moreover, PM Narendra Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone.

In an announcement that can provide a major fillip to infrastructure development of Gurugram, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) chairman V Umashankar on June 1 announced that Dwarka expressway is likely to be completed within 18 months. The public official also mentioned that construction is expected to begin as soon as all the litigations regarding the expressway are over. Following the announcement, a hectic process has been followed for allotment of the plots and razing all the structures.

No one can relate more to the challenges in the growth and expansion of Gurugram than 90,000 homebuyers of Dwarka Expressway. For long, the residents have been demanding for the completion of 28 kilometers of road that will lead to the growth of social infrastructure in the area. However, legal hurdles in land acquisition and inadequate compensation provided to villagers have resulted in the project prolonging since 2007.

In order to put pressure on the government, certain residents have taken an online route to put forth the difficulties faced by them. "In Dwarka Expressway, we are living in stone age, no light, no water, security, sewerage, roads and hospitals. School children must be brought from all over the city to demonstrate what stone –age in the urban scenario looks like," says Sushil Kumar.

A grievance that is being shared by lakhs of homebuyers from Delhi–NCR was expressed by Sanjay Singh who said, "We are moving to poor category slowly by paying the rents and EMI," said Sanjay Singh.

Most homeowners at Dwarka Expressway have been demanding fast-track courts in the cases of Dwarka Expressway so that basic amenities can be provided in the area. As NHAI is expected to take over Dwarka expressway project, residents are also demanding that the Kherki Dhaul toll should be removed and better streamline connectivity should be developed for Dwarka Expressway.