Land to be acquired for 24m roads in pvt colonies, developers to pay cost in Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday announced that Haryana govt will initiate land acquisition to develop long-pending 24-metre-wide roads in the city's licensed colonies, with the cost to be recovered from builders.Speaking during his budget address, Saini said a permanent solution to the problem of narrow access roads will be worked out in 2026–27. He noted that hundreds of licensed colonies in the city currently rely on access roads that narrow down to just two karam (around 3.3 metres) at certain stretches and four karam (about 6.7 metres) at others, causing hardship to lakhs of residents.
Saini said the issue did not exist under Master Plan 2001, when Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) acquired land and developed 18-metre internal roads across sectors. Master Plan 2021 was implemented in 2007 even as the city expanded at a rapid pace and the plan did not have a provision to expand the roads, 24-metre ones for internal sectors, accordingly. The cost of such acquisition was not built into the external development charges (EDC) levied on private developers.The chief minister also pointed out that although a transferable development rights (TDR) policy was introduced in 2016 to bridge the gap, it failed to achieve the desired outcome. A revised TDR policy in 2021 has so far yielded only 140 acres for road development.Questioning the previous govt's approach, Saini said land acquisition costs for 24-metre roads were not factored in while granting licences, leaving several colonies between sectors 58 and 115 without proper access infrastructure. "The govt will now initiate land acquisition for developing the pending 24-metre roads. The expenditure incurred on acquisition and development will be recovered from the builders concerned," he said. The absence of 24-metre roads has remained a persistent concern, particularly in the newer sectors of the city. In Oct last year, residents moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking directions for the construction of 24-metre and 30-metre internal roads.Residents said the missing road links have hampered smooth connectivity, delayed ambulance and fire services and created dust and safety hazards. In some societies, even basic services such as water pipelines cannot be laid due to the lack of proper internal roads. Under the Gurgaon-Manesar Master Plan 2031, govt agencies were tasked with building 60-metre sector-dividing roads, while the responsibility for constructing 24-metre internal sector roads was left to private developers. Each developer is mandated to build only the portion falling within their licensed area.This fragmented model has resulted in patchwork development, with different builders constructing stretches at different times, while gaps persist where licences were never issued or projects stalled, leaving several colonies dependent on revenue roads or unpaved passages.Welcoming the announcement, residents termed the acquisition plan a long-awaited intervention. "The construction of 24-metre roads will not only make life easier for lakhs of families but will also ensure structured development of new sectors. Land that was previously ineligible for licensing can now be opened up for residential projects, generating revenue for the government. This decision is a win-win for both the public and the state," said Sunny Daultabad, convener of the Dwarka Expressway Gurugram Development Association. However, residents maintained that they will monitor implementation closely. "Our struggle will continue until actual construction begins on the ground," said Sunil Sareen, co-convener of the citizens' group.MSID:: 128949664 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !