NHAI Pauses Stormwater Drain Construction in Gurgaon Over Elevated Corridor Plan
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has temporarily halted the construction of a proposed stormwater drain along the critical Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bharadwaj Chowk stretch in Gurgaon. This decision stems from a lack of clarity regarding the final redevelopment plan for this 2.2-kilometer section, which is now under consideration for a major elevated corridor project.
Elevated Corridor Proposal Under Scrutiny
NHAI has submitted a fresh proposal for constructing an elevated corridor along the same alignment, with an estimated cost of Rs 183 crore. The authority is currently awaiting a final decision on this plan. As a precautionary measure, NHAI has decided to backfill the partially constructed stormwater drain, which was originally designed to address persistent waterlogging issues in the area.
"We have temporarily halted construction of the load-bearing stormwater drain," an NHAI official explained. "If the elevated corridor is approved, the alignment of the service road will change. It will likely shift inwards and run beneath the elevated structure, similar to Sohna Road. In that case, the alignment and levels of the drain will have to be revised."
This move aims to prevent unnecessary expenditure and potential rework should the elevated corridor project receive the green light.
Safety Concerns and Project Delays
The decision to backfill the drain also addresses significant safety concerns. Earlier reports indicated that barbed wire fencing around the excavated site posed injury risks from falls or collisions. The stretch had remained excavated for an extended period, raising alarms about accident hazards.
"The stretch remained excavated for a long period, raising safety concerns and the risk of accidents," the NHAI official added. "As a precaution, we decided to backfill the partially constructed drain for now. Other utility works, including shifting of electrical cables and substation-related work, are under way."
Meanwhile, Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) has expressed concerns over delays in right-of-way clearance and utility shifting along this corridor, which is part of the metro's Phase 1 expansion. A senior GMRL official stated that work cannot proceed until the land is properly cleared, creating a bottleneck in the 15.3-kilometer corridor connecting Millennium City Centre to Sector 9.
Long History of Design Changes and Delays
The stormwater drain project, originally approved in 2017, is part of a broader plan to upgrade the 5.6-kilometer stretch between Hero Honda Chowk and Dwarka Expressway. Work on the 2.2-kilometer section toward Umang Bharadwaj Chowk has faced repeated delays due to numerous design and execution changes over the years.
Initially, the road was slated for widening into a six-lane corridor with service roads and a flyover at Umang Bharadwaj Chowk. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2019 but was later merged with the Gurgaon-Pataudi-Rewari highway project, pushing the start date to November 2021 with a deadline of November 2023.
In 2022, MP and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh proposed an elevated road between the two chowks following demands from local residents and industrial associations. Metro expansion plans further complicated matters, with authorities considering multiple options including an elevated corridor, at-grade redevelopment, and 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. The following year saw plans for a six-lane elevated corridor, which were subsequently dropped in 2025 when authorities reverted to the original plan of road widening and flyover construction. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) also requested NHAI to include two vehicular underpasses to better manage local traffic flow.
With NHAI now submitting a fresh proposal for an elevated corridor, the future of this crucial Gurgaon infrastructure project remains uncertain as authorities weigh the various development options.
