Gurgaon Metro Project Faces Major Halt on 2.5km Stretch
Construction work on a critical 2.5-kilometer segment of the new metro corridor in Gurgaon, spanning from Umang Bhardwaj Chowk to Hero Honda Chowk, has come to a standstill. The primary reasons for this delay are the unresolved issues with right of way (RoW) clearance and the shifting of essential utilities. This section is part of the broader road redevelopment initiative being undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), with funding provided by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
Key Challenges in Land and Utility Management
A senior official from Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) emphasized that construction cannot proceed until the necessary land is fully cleared. The problem was extensively reviewed during a high-level meeting held on Friday, which included representatives from GMRL, NHAI, and GMDA. During this meeting, GMRL officials highlighted that the land required for construction has not been made available and urged NHAI to provide a definitive timeline for RoW clearance and utility relocation to kickstart work on this stretch.
The corridor is densely populated with multiple underground and overhead utilities, including water pipelines, sewer lines, and power lines. Additionally, the metro alignment is further complicated by the presence of a shop, a portion of Himgiri Ashram, and a CNG station, all of which occupy space needed for construction activities. Metro officials noted that while metro infrastructure typically requires a limited working area, the extensive spread of utility networks across this stretch necessitates their relocation before any construction can begin.
Interdependency on Power Infrastructure Shifting
An NHAI official explained that progress is heavily dependent on Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) shifting power infrastructure. "We have an interdependency on DHBVN for shifting of power poles along the stretch, particularly on the left-hand side. Until those poles are relocated, we cannot begin work on the water pipeline. Similarly, the sewer line work on the left-hand side is also held up due to this dependency," the official stated.
The official added that once DHBVN completes its portion and the site is cleared, NHAI will commence work on water and sewer lines, aiming to finish these tasks within three months. Furthermore, relocation efforts linked to the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL) substation are currently underway and are expected to be completed by June. "We are also planning to begin demolition of the boundary wall at Himgiri Ashram within the next 10 days," the official confirmed.
Impact on Phase 1 of the Metro Corridor
This delay has created a significant bottleneck in Phase 1 of the 15.3-kilometer metro corridor, which is designed to connect Millennium City Centre to Sector 9. While foundational activities such as pile cap work are progressing smoothly in other sections, the lack of clear RoW in this specific stretch continues to impede overall construction progress.
In August of last year, the construction contract for Phase 1 was awarded to Dilip Buildcon and Ranjit Buildcon for a total of Rs 1,277 crore, with a completion timeline set at 30 months. The ongoing delays threaten to extend this timeline, underscoring the urgency of resolving the land and utility issues to keep the project on track.
