Ward 12: The residents of Dwarka Expressway have a world-class society but poor public infrastructure

The Dwarka Expressway area, widely known for its prime residential communities, presents a striking paradox. The area, part of Ward 12, comprising sectors 100, 101, 102, Tekchand Nagar, Basai Village and other surrounding areas, has a population of 250,000, of which 61,807 are registered voters. While high-rise buildings and modern amenities dominate the landscape, offering the promise of luxurious living, the lack of proper infrastructure – dilapidated roads, irregular water supply, encroachments and ineffective waste management – ​​has made life difficult for the residents.

Water Mafia

Although many communities here have state-of-the-art facilities, they are heavily reliant on water tankers, often supplied by local water mafias. This has not only made access to water unreliable but has also placed a heavy financial burden on residents. The failure of municipal authorities to ensure regular water supply has turned a fundamental right into a commodity controlled by private providers.

“We are paying exorbitant prices for water every month, but the local government has done nothing to improve the supply,” said Sunil Sareen, a resident of Imperial Garden in Sector 102 and deputy coordinator of the Dwarka Expressway Group Development Authority (DXPGDA), an umbrella organisation of residents’ welfare associations (RWAs). “We have raised the issue several times, but the situation has only worsened. The government must take action to install a proper water supply system,” he added.

Officials of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) said that the water mafia has damaged the infrastructure and then made residents pay exorbitant amounts for water tankers and bottled water. GMDA officials said that the problem of leakage or tampering lies in the developer’s water connection and not in the GMDA main water line. “The developer is responsible for maintaining their own pipeline infrastructure laid by them. Any illegal connections detected in the GMDA water line are disconnected by the GMDA team,” said Abhinav Verma, executive engineer, GMDA.

Common accidents

The 60-metre-long road near the Oyster Grande residential complex in Sector 102 is riddled with potholes and uneven surfaces and has been the scene of at least 50 accidents this year alone, including four serious ones over the years, police said.

“It is shocking that the authorities have not taken any action despite repeated requests from residents,” said Colonel Hari Bhagwan (retired), chairman of Oyster Grande RWA in Sector 102/102A. He added that Oyster Grande is also one of the polling stations for the upcoming elections and if the road works are not carried out soon, many voters may not be able to reach the polling station on election day.

Although the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has allocated funds ₹15 crore for repairing and re-laying roads in sectors 102 and 102A. The pace of work is slow.

Delayed road and electricity infrastructure projects

The long-promised Dhanwapur Railway Underpass, which is crucial for improving connectivity in Ward 12, remains incomplete five years after construction began due to pending tenders. “This underpass is vital for connecting our area to the rest of the city, but it is still incomplete after years of work. We are suffering due to delays and this is unacceptable,” said Mukesh Singla, a social activist from Surat Nagar.

The electrical infrastructure in Sector 104 is poor and power outages and voltage fluctuations are frequent due to non-implementation of the promised 33kV electrical infrastructure. The work on the smart grid is pending and is yet to be upgraded. “We are facing frequent power outages and unreliable voltage, which not only disrupts our daily lives but also damages our electrical appliances,” said Navdeep Singh, president of ATS Triumph RWA, Sector 104.

Intrusion into public space

Scrap dealers, liquor shop owners and construction material suppliers have occupied large swaths of green belts and public spaces in Ward 12. “The encroachments have taken over our green belts that were supposedly reserved for parks and public use. These areas are now occupied by unauthorised vendors and piles of construction waste,” said Ritu Sharma, a resident of Sector 103.

Waste piles and flooding

In the neighborhoods of this district, piles of uncollected garbage are a common sight. The problem is especially acute during the monsoon, when the streets are often flooded and the accumulated garbage turns the roads into sewers.

“The waste management system here is broken. There is no regular collection and many piles of garbage are lying on the streets. They are a breeding ground for diseases, especially during the rainy season. The authorities have done little to improve the situation despite repeated complaints from residents,” Sharma added.

Flooding is particularly bad in Tekchand Nagar, Basai and Surat Nagar Phase 1. Drains are often blocked or overflowing, and short rain showers fill roads with water up to three or four feet. “Even after a small downpour, we are living in knee-high water. The drains are so poorly maintained that rainwater has nowhere to go, and it takes days for the water to drain away. We are essentially living in slum-like conditions because of the terrible drainage system,” said Mukesh Singla.

Sector 104 also faces serious waste management issues, with garbage littering the streets and untreated sewage posing health risks. “The waste management here is abysmal. We have repeatedly raised these issues but the authorities have taken little action. We need better systems for segregating and disposing of waste,” said Navdeep Singh.

Lack of street lighting and public transport

Streets in Sector 37D, 100, 101, 102, 103 and 104 are poorly lit due to missing poles and broken lights, while the inner lanes in these areas do not have street lights. “There have been cases of accidents and even petty crimes due to the absence of street lights,” said Aditi Singh, a resident of Tekchand Nagar.

Public transport options in the district are severely limited, forcing most residents to rely on private vehicles or taxis for their daily commute. “We have no bus services or local transport options,” Singh added. “This means more cars on the road, leading to traffic jams, more pollution and higher transport costs. We need a reliable public transport system to ease the daily commute,” Singh said.

Hope for change

As Ward 12 prepares for the upcoming elections, residents are hoping that their long-neglected issues will finally get attention. With over 61,000 registered voters, the ward is of great electoral importance. Residents have made it clear that they expect concrete action from the new MLA to address their concerns, including repairing the water supply, improving road conditions, and improving waste management and public services.

“We have world-class communities but live in terrible conditions due to lack of basic amenities. The new MLA must prioritize these issues and work towards improving the quality of life for all residents in Ward 12,” Sareen said.

The inadequate electrical infrastructure, especially in Sector 104, remains a major point of frustration for residents. Rekha Menon, a resident of Indiabulls Centrum Park, Sector 103, wants more public transport options in her area. “We have to rely on private vehicles as there is no reliable public transport. This is a growing area and the government should ensure that we have basic amenities like buses or local transport,” she said.

The way forward for district 12

Although the Dwarka Expressway area was envisioned as a prime residential hub, its development has been marred by poor civic infrastructure. As elections approach, residents are calling for a more proactive approach from the authorities to fix the broken roads, water shortage, waste management failures and lack of transport services.

“We have been waiting for years but our problems seem to be getting worse. This time we hope that the new MLA will take our concerns seriously and keep his promises,” said Navdeep Singh.

Taking note of the concerns of the residents, Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said the government was committed to addressing the issues of water, roads and waste management. “We are aware of the infrastructural challenges in Ward 12. Steps are being taken to expedite ongoing projects and improve the overall quality of services in the ward,” he said/

“The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram has been working on a detailed plan to improve road conditions and waste management systems in the area. We are in talks with relevant authorities to ensure timely implementation of these projects,” MCG Commissioner Narhari Singh Bangar said.