Incessant rains leave roads, streets battered in Gurugram

Incessant rains over the past few days may have provided some relief to Gurugram residents from the heat, but commuters are now facing the aftermath in the form of the damage the roads have suffered.

Across long stretches of the city, roads have become battered and riddled with potholes, making driving a hazardous task. Whether in residential colonies or on main roads, potholes greet citizens as they step out of their homes to reach their destinations.The rains have caused significant inconvenience, especially for motorists. Poorly maintained roads, damaged manholes, stagnant water, uncollected garbage and unfinished roadworks are making commuting increasingly difficult.

Rakesh Rana, a resident of Dharampur, said there were at least 80 dangerous potholes along an 800-m stretch of road to the Najafgarh drain. He urged the authorities to repair it immediately.

Shivam Shah, a resident of New Palam Vihar, remarked, “The city’s roads have become dangerous for driving, particularly for two-wheelers. The blacktop has been washed away, leaving large potholes everywhere.”

“Driving on nearly every road in the city has become a nightmare,” said Prakash Lamba, president of the Residents’ Welfare Association of Sector 21. He called on the MC to immediately repair and improve the quality of the roads.

In some areas, the poor drainage system is exacerbating the situation. Water has remained stagnant on roads even two days after the rain stopped, attracting mosquitoes and increasing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Uncollected garbage is contributing to unsanitary conditions in several areas, including Sector 46, Sector 45, Samaspur, Jharsa, Tigra, Sector 38, Sector 51, Sector 56, Sector 10A, Sector 14, Sector 22 and others.

Mansi Soodan, a resident of Jal Vihar Colony, reported deep potholes on all roads leading to her colony. “Dirty water mixed with sewage is stagnant in several places, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk,” she said.

When contacted, Manoj Kumar, Chief Engineer of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, said he held a meeting with all engineering divisions on Monday and instructed civic body engineers to repair potholes and craters on a priority basis.

“I understand the difficulties faced by the public. The heavy rains over the past few days made road repairs impossible, but now that the weather has cleared, we will repair all roads within the next eight to 10 days,” he said.

‘Large potholes everywhere’

The city’s roads have become dangerous for driving, particularly for two-wheelers. The blacktop has been washed away, leaving large potholes everywhere. — Shivam Shah, resident, New Palam Vihar