The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has embarked on a mission to build the most detailed and accurate database of the city's infrastructure and public services ever assembled. This extensive baseline survey, launched on Friday, will cover all areas from sector 1 to sector 57 and is designed to guide long-term urban planning and address persistent service deficiencies.
A Three-Phased Approach to Data Collection
The ambitious survey exercise is scheduled to run until December 25 and has been meticulously structured into three distinct phases, each focusing on specific civic aspects. Officials stated that all final survey sheets must be submitted by the December 25 deadline.
Phase one, from December 5 to 12, will concentrate on core infrastructure. This includes a thorough assessment of roads, sewage and drainage networks, water supply systems, and streetlights.
Phase two, scheduled for December 13 to 19, will shift focus to documenting public amenities. Surveyors will record details of parks, markets, community and public toilets, and various institutions.
Phase three, in the final stretch from December 20 to 25, will capture data on street vendors, unauthorized activities, land identification, and lists of non-governmental organizations, volunteers, and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).
Ensuring Accuracy with Geo-Tagged Data and Clear Roles
A key objective of this initiative is to overcome the historical problem of inaccurate and outdated records that have hindered effective city planning. To achieve this, the survey will be fully geo-referenced, with field observations backed by geotagged photographs.
Survey teams have clear mandates to capture on-ground realities using standardized data sheets. The roles and responsibilities for the mammoth task are sharply defined to ensure accountability.
Joint commissioners will oversee the execution in their zones, coordinate with other departments like the GMDA, HSVP, and HSIIDC, and hold weekly progress reviews.
The most demanding fieldwork falls to the Assistant Sanitary Inspectors (ASIs). They are tasked as lead surveyors, required to visit every location in their assigned sectors, verify infrastructure status, and update data daily.
Senior Sanitary Inspectors (SSIs) will guide the ASIs, provide technical verification, and conduct random field checks. Junior engineers will supply departmental data on specific assets like roads and streetlights, while zonal tax officers will contribute property and land-use information.
Rigorous Multi-Level Verification for Reliable Data
Emphasizing the critical importance of data fidelity, the MCG has instituted a robust three-tier verification protocol. Field staff must ensure every entry is geo-referenced and supported by photos, especially for issues like damaged roads or overflowing drains.
The verification process involves full first-level checks by ASIs, followed by a 20-30% sample verification by SSIs. The final approval authority rests with the joint commissioners.
Monitoring will be continuous through daily reports from ASIs, weekly summaries from SSIs, and weekly review meetings led by joint commissioners, with additional mid-survey reviews conducted by additional commissioners.
This comprehensive data-gathering drive, operating under a newly issued standard operating procedure, represents a significant step by the MCG to move towards evidence-based governance. The resulting database is expected to be a foundational tool for strategic investment and finally plugging the chronic service gaps that Gurgaon residents have long experienced.
