No lights,speed-breakers on expressway,Gurgaon residents hold protest

DLF residents alleged that the lack of basic facilities on the stretch has resulted in four deaths in the last two months.

Residents blocked the 2-km stretch between Bristol chowk and Kachra chowk and demanded that authorities install speed-breakers and traffic lights.

Sudhir Kapoor,secretary of the DLF City Residents Welfare Association (RWA),said,“When the expressway came into being two years ago,we had told authorities to make it pedestrian-friendly as it passes through a residential area. There are about 10,000 residents living alongside the road. We were told that the project was under PWD and Reliance Infrastructure. We have been shuttling from PWD office to Reliance Infrastructure and Gurgaon corporation office to get these facilities. No one is willing to take up the responsibility.”

Parimal Bardhan,the organiser of the protest and also an RWA member,said: “Elderly citizens,women and children find it difficult to cross the road. There have been numerous accidents on this stretch. There is only one zebra crossing — near the Qutub Plaza. But without traffic signals and speed breaker zebra-crossing has no relevance.”

The blocking of road led congestion in Gurgaon during morning rush hour. HUDA administrator Praveen Kumar said: “Within a week,the speed breakers will be constructed on the 2-km stretch. Streetlights will be installed within three months. Construction of traffic signals has also begun. Although it was PWD (B&R)’s responsibility,we have now taken the mandate.”