Gurgaon: The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon's (MCG) engineering wing has allegedly turned a vital link road connecting Dwarka Expressway to Sarai Alawardi into an accident-prone zone due to negligence, culminating in a serious crash on Sunday. The incident has left a motorist hospitalized, prompting residents to demand accountability.
Deadly Pit on Busy Road
At the center of the controversy is a 20-foot-deep pit dug for sewer infrastructure connection between wards 34 and 6 and the 20 MLD Jahajgarh sewage treatment plant (STP). Residents claim that after laying a 600mm main sewer line, officials failed to construct the required main chamber, forcing the site to be re-excavated and leaving critical work incomplete for months. However, MCG officials insist the work is nearing completion and will be finished within a week.
The result is a gaping, life-threatening excavation alongside a busy road with virtually no barricading, warning signs, reflectors, or safety measures. Balwan Singh, RWA president of New Colony in Sarai Alawardi, stated, “This 20-foot-deep pit has been dug for the last four months with no safety barricading, and work is progressing slowly. The STP network connection for wards 34 and 6 to Jahajgarh started in June-July last year but remains incomplete. It has become a death trap for residents.” The absence of streetlights exacerbates the danger, forcing residents to rely solely on vehicle headlights, Singh added.
Sunil Yadav, another resident, said, “There are no barricades, no warning lights, and no safety arrangements. Anyone unfamiliar with the road could fall straight into the pit.”
MCG Response and Contractor Notice
When questioned about the lack of barricading, MCG executive engineer Sunder Sheoran said, “We will issue a notice to the contractor seeking an explanation for why no safety measures, including barricading, have been implemented. The contractor must submit a report and barricade the area. The connection work for wards 34 and 6 with Jahajgarh STP is complete, but a colony (A 85 colony) connection remains, which is currently underway. This will be completed within a week.”
At the site, multiple pits have been dug a few meters apart, with earthmovers and other machinery deployed but no barricading. Residents stated that neither proper barricading nor reflective warning systems have been installed around the deep excavation. Motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and even animals are forced to navigate the hazardous stretch at their own risk.
Dust Pollution Adds to Woes
Residents also highlighted that constant dust from the project has become a public health concern. With excavation ongoing for months and loose soil uncovered, commuters and nearby residents breathe dust daily, especially during peak traffic when vehicles kick up large clouds of particulate matter.
“The dust pollution is unbearable. Every time a vehicle passes, a cloud of dust rises and spreads across the area. Children, elderly people, and shopkeepers living nearby are facing problems. Authorities have neither covered the excavated soil nor sprinkled water regularly to control dust,” added Yadav.
Demands for Immediate Action
Residents noted that despite the recent accident, little has been done to address safety hazards or environmental concerns. They claimed the prolonged delay in completing sewer connection work reflects poor planning and inadequate supervision by executing agencies. Locals have demanded immediate barricading of all excavation sites, installation of reflective warning signs and streetlights, and regular dust-control measures including water sprinkling and debris removal.
