Tale of two unequal faces of Gurgaon

Sumedha Sharma

A bright blue signboard at the Rajiv Chowk directs one towards old Gurgaon. The signboard is probably the first documented acceptance of the development gap between old Gurgaon and metropolitan Gurugram city. Gurugram has two faces of contrast: The modern part is home to swanky malls, posh condominiums, offices of multinational companies, international schools, envious road network and realty infrastructure while the older area is characterised by struggle for basic infrastructure, and encroachments stalling progress and development. 

Cross the IFFCO Chowk and one is led into a labyrinth of villages, sectors and colonies characterised by dusty air, perpetual traffic jams, damaged roads, inadequate water and electricity supply and a stagnant terrain.

It was probably in the last decade that the divide between the two parts of Gurugram city widened, making it a glaring example of lop-sided urbanisation and development.

Growth of historical city

The city, formerly known as Gurgaon, was there even during the Mahabharata era. It had been a witness to various ages such as medieval age and regimes such as the Delhi sultanate and the British. The story of the present day city started unfolding in 1966 when Haryana was carved out of Punjab as a separate state. Soon, Gurgaon was designated as a district and in 70s it embarked upon the journey of its growth and development under HUDA just like other districts. However, it was in 1990s that the golden era began and the city witnessed unprecedented growth. With liberalisation and globalisation, Gurgaon became home to numerous international companies and industries and the biggest job marketplace in Haryana. GE was the first international company to set up its outsourcing unit at the Corporate Park in Gurgaon in 1997. This opened the gates for thousands of people from across India to come to Gurgaon looking for corporate sector jobs and there has been no looking back since then. 

Initially, sectors up to 23 were developed along the old Delhi-Gurgaon road in the city. Successive state governments have largely developed these areas except two pockets that private developers have built (Old DLF Colony near Sector 14 by DLF and Palam Vihar in Sectors 21 to 23 by Ansals). 

The city started growing outwards with the coming up of the National Highway No. 8. Sectors 24 to 57 (except Sectors 31 to 38) all were developed after 1990s. These areas have largely been built by private developers and are located on the left side of the National Highway No. 8 (from Delhi towards Jaipur). Unprecedented and unplanned development had its pitfalls. The city grew into two diametrically different areas: old Gurgaon and new Gurugram city. 

Bridge development gap

Ironically, while successive governments talked about various projects such as the beautification of Sadar Bazaar and Metro train connectivity, there has never been a consolidated thought or plan for the development of old Gurgaon to bring it on a par with the cosmopolitan city.

In early 2000, INLD leader and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had pompously announced the implementation of a plan to bridge the development gap but the idea never clicked. A unifying authority such as the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has been constituted after a prolonged wait of 20 years and old Gurgaon is demanding its due share of development and prosperity that it has been deprived of due to official indifference. Residents want comprehensive and scientific solutions to their problems, which may then encourage ‘cosmo’ investments and change their fate.

Restoration of lost space 

One of the biggest problems of old Gurgaon is the lack of proper space to live, to walk, to drive, to play and to park vehicles. Like in many old cities, encroachments are visible everywhere in old Gurgaon. Be it Sadar Bazaar, streets, roundabout or roads, large parts of the old area are under encroachments that have mushroomed during the past few decades, bringing the livability index down to a critically-low level. While the civic authorities claim to be removing encroachments regularly, their campaign has hardly paid off. The old area needs an intensive anti-encroachment drive and restoration of designated places to create the much-required space for transformation and development. 

Underground water 

Private developers have flourished and made a huge amount of money in the dream city with excessive use of underground water, the most efficient source of water supply then. But over the years the unchecked exploitation of underground water has resulted in a steep decline in the water table in the region, leading to a crisis. The civic authorities have banned the use of submersible pumps though they have failed to provide optimum, and regular supply of portable water.

Poor power infrastructure

While new Gurugram may have developed into a world-class city, loosely hanging power wires, damaged transformers and a rickety electricity infrastructure characterise old Gurgaon. The area faces frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations lasting up to 15 hours. The deteriorating situation has now worsened. 

Public transport

While new Gurugram has the Rapid Metro, Delhi Metro, newly launched ‘Gurugaman’ bus service and app-based private transport, public transport is a major problem in the old area. As most of the residents in old Gurgaon are unable to afford taxis all the time, they travel by unregulated auto-rickshaws or their own vehicles, leading to congestion on roads.

Poor roads in old area

While new Gurugram city can boast of flyovers and underpasses, old Gurgaon presents a dismal picture of tattered, potholed and waterlogged roads. The Haryana Government has been promising residents of providing seamless road connectivity but the situation in old Gurgaon is grim. According to records, old Gurgaon registers a higher number of accidental deaths due to the poor condition of roads. The situation has obtained due to the lack of speed-breakers, potholed roads, poor sewerage, non-functional streetlights and traffic signals and ill-designed roads.

For old Gurgaon, time stood still while its younger cousin grew by leaps and bounds 

• A visit to Sadar Bazaar gives one a view of the main problems facing old Gurgaon. The time has stood still for it. People are still living in the same areas with the same set of problems and no solutions in sight. While its cooler cousin started its journey of progress with swanky malls and multiplexes, old Gurgaon got its first multiplex some two years ago.
• New Gurugram is a realty hub with an array of projects but ironically there has been no major change in the landscape of old Gurgaon. There are no ‘cosmo’ investments or transformation in the pipeline and most of the old Gurgaon residents blame it on infrastructure deficit and other problems. Developers say that poor drainage, electricity shortage and encroachments in the area have hindered its potential for transformation and development. 
• While new roads, realty projects, and entertainment hubs are coming up in Gurugram city, residents of the old area have now started moving out. People are either selling or renting their properties to migrants and moving to newer areas for a cosmopolitan and relaxed life. The departure of people, also from villages, has transformed a major part of old Gurgaon into urban bastis, necessitating a special development plan.

Process on to ensure equal growth: MP  

The process to bring the two pockets of Gurugram city at the same level of development has already started with the formation of the GMDA. We are bringing the long-promised Metro connectivity and special attention is being paid to infrastructural expectations. We will join old Gurgaon and new Gurugram with a common thread of development.— Rao Inderjeet Singh, Gurugram MP