NHAI to Begin Repair Work on Gurgaon's 2km Hero Honda-Umang Bharadwaj Stretch Within a Week
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to commence repair work on the 2-kilometer stretch between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bharadwaj Chowk in Gurgaon. Officials have confirmed that the agency for the work has been finalized, and repairs are expected to start within a week.
Road Condition and Impact on Traffic
This road serves as a key link to NH-8 and nearby industrial and residential areas, but it has been in poor condition for nearly two years. Damaged asphalt, deep craters, and uneven patches have significantly slowed traffic, leading to frequent congestion. Residents report that the stretch has become almost unmotorable in some areas.
Udyabir Singh, a resident of Sector 10A, shared his experience: "The road has been in poor condition for two years. There are deep craters all along the stretch, leading to daily traffic snarls. It should take barely 10 minutes to cross, but sometimes it takes over 30. Several potholes are filled with sewer water."
Repair Work Details and Challenges
According to senior NHAI officials, the repair work will involve overlaying the damaged sections. An official stated: "The agency is finalized and work will start within a week. Overlaying will be carried out wherever required to restore the carriageway and ensure smoother movement of traffic." However, they emphasized that for the road to last long, sewer overflow issues must be addressed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) on priority.
Civic officials have acknowledged the sewer line damage, attributing it to HVPNL, and have committed to carrying out repairs within three days.
Broader Redevelopment Project and Delays
The 2km stretch is part of a larger NHAI redevelopment project with a completion target of April 2027. It connects NH-8 to sectors 9, 10, and 37. While NHAI is executing the project, the cost is being borne by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
This project, approved in 2017, aims to upgrade a 5.6km section between Hero Honda Chowk and Dwarka Expressway. However, work on the 2.2km section towards Umang Bharadwaj Chowk has faced repeated delays due to design and execution changes.
Initially, the road was to be widened into a six-lane corridor with service roads and a flyover at Umang Bharadwaj Chowk. Work was first scheduled to start in 2019 but was merged with the Gurgaon-Pataudi-Rewari highway project, delaying the start to November 2021 and the deadline to November 2023.
Proposed Changes and Current Status
In 2022, MP and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh proposed an elevated road between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bharadwaj Chowk, based on demands from local resident and industrial associations. Metro expansion plans further complicated matters, with several options considered, including:
- An elevated corridor
- At-grade redevelopment
- A double-decker structure with a metro line on a single pier
In November 2023, NHAI paused the revamp and delinked it from the contractor until a final design was decided. In 2024, a six-lane elevated corridor was planned, but in 2025, the proposal was scrapped, and authorities returned to the original plan of widening the road and building a flyover at Umang Bharadwaj Chowk. GMDA also requested NHAI to include two vehicular underpasses to manage local traffic.
Currently, NHAI has submitted a proposal for an elevated corridor, estimated to cost Rs 183 crore, but the final decision is still pending.
Residents' Concerns and Urgent Calls for Action
Residents have urged prompt repair work to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. Suraj Bhola, general secretary of Sector 9A, highlighted the severity of the issue: "The craters are so deep that vehicles are forced to slow down abruptly, leading to long traffic snarls, especially during office hours. School buses struggle to cross this stretch during rush hours. Repair work should be taken up much earlier, and the redevelopment of this road must be prioritized."
As NHAI prepares to begin repairs, the focus remains on addressing immediate infrastructure gaps while navigating the complexities of the larger redevelopment project to ensure long-term solutions for Gurgaon's traffic woes.
