Cab fare soars to Rs 600, Dwarka Expressway commuters seek buses linking Gurgaon to metro stations

Gurgaon: Residents of newly developed sectors along the Dwarka Expressway have written to Prime Minister and chief ministers of Delhi and Haryana, seeking introduction of dedicated, high-frequency bus services connecting metro stations in Delhi's Dwarka with the millennium city. In their letter, residents highlighted severe gaps in last-mile and intercity public transport despite rapid residential and commercial growth along the corridor.Residents said the absence of reliable bus connectivity has forced thousands of daily commuters to rely on private vehicles, app-based cabs or informal transport, worsening traffic congestion, travel time and pollution.
"We are witnessing massive development along the Dwarka Expressway, with housing societies, offices, schools and healthcare facilities becoming operational, but public transport has not kept pace. There is an acute shortage of dependable bus connectivity between Dwarka metro stations and new sectors in Gurgaon, making daily commuting difficult and expensive," said Sunil Sareen, deputy convenor of a citizens' group called Dwarka Expressway Gurgaon Development Association.Residents pointed out that the lack of scheduled and frequent bus services leads to severe congestion on service roads and arterial junctions, particularly during peak hours. The situation worsens during traffic restrictions and pollution-control measures such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), when commuters are left with limited alternatives.A resident of Imperial Gardens in Sector 102, Medhavi Saluja, said, "My college is in Delhi, and my parents have to drop me off at and pick me up from the Sector 21 metro station every day. With no reliable public transport, both my studies and my parents' work suffer. Cab fares have also gone up after toll collection started on the Dwarka Expressway."Earlier, cab fares between Gurgaon's Sector 102 and the Sector 21 Dwarka Metro station typically ranged between Rs 300 and Rs 350. However, after toll collection began on the Dwarka Expressway, the same trip now costs commuters between Rs 550 and Rs 600.Residents also flagged the broader economic impact of poor connectivity. "Although we own factory land in Gurgaon, we were compelled to set up operations in Delhi's Najafgarh due to the absence of public transport. Private vehicles may work for owners, but workers depend on buses. That connectivity simply does not exist," said a resident of Shapoorji Pallonji Joyville in Sector 102.The residents noted that the Dwarka Expressway was envisioned as a high-capacity urban corridor. However, without a robust bus network integrated with the metro system, its potential for sustainable mobility remains unrealised.Currently, around 150 GMCBL buses operate on 23 routes across the city. However, several large residential, industrial and corporate clusters—particularly along the Dwarka Expressway—remain poorly connected in terms of last-mile access. While around 200 electric buses are expected to be inducted into the fleet later this year, residents urged authorities to prioritise high-demand corridors.Meanwhile, the CEO of GMCBL, Vishwajeet Chaudhary, said the matter was under active consideration. "Requests from citizen groups are being duly taken up for consideration. Potential routes are being identified, and once new buses are inducted into the fleet, these areas will also be brought under public transport services," he said.