A heavy spell of monsoon rain turned Gurugram's posh Golf Course Road into a virtual stream on Sunday, sparking outrage among residents and raising concerns about the city's infrastructure. The area, known for its luxurious apartments, including The Camellias by DLF, which boasts properties worth over Rs 100 crore, was left waterlogged after overnight rainfall.
The Camellias, where an 11,000-square-foot apartment was resold for over Rs 100 crore last October, saw its surroundings submerged in waist-deep water, NDTV reported. Homeowners in the area, who have invested between Rs 18 crore and Rs 40 crore in their apartments, were shocked to find that the upscale neighbourhood looked like other flood-prone area of the National Capital Region (NCR).
Visuals shared on social media highlighted the stark contrast between the luxurious amenities of the Golf Course Road and the reality of its waterlogged streets. A user posted on X, "This is the famous Golf Course Road of Gurgaon where a few months back a flat was sold for over ₹ 100 crores. 99.5% of people in India cannot afford or even think of buying a property on this road. But this part of Gurgaon is no different from any area of the city. #DLF"
Another user questioned the quality of infrastructure, asking, "Where does our tax money go? Indian roads are made by contractors, and this road was made just a few months back in Gurgaon's posh area—Golf Course Extension Road. One day of rain, and we are amidst a river! Corruption, only corruption!"
Another netizen shared a video of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway at Gurugram and wrote, "That's state of art 13.1 billion #Delhi #Mumbai Expressway in at #Gurgaon #Gurugram border in #GurugramRains Built a few years ago for World Class travel this #Expressway giving free off reading experience to vehicles"
Gurugram Administration Faces Flak For Waterlogging In City After Rains, Resident Says 'Stop Fooling'
Heavy rain lashed Gurugram on Sunday, leading to severe waterlogging and traffic snarls in several areas of the city. According to the district administration, Gurugram recorded 70 mm of rainfall during the day, with Wazirabad receiving a maximum of 108 mm. Several areas, including the Narsinghpur stretch of the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, Basai, and Golf Course Extension Road, were heavily inundated, causing major traffic disruptions, PTI reported.
Significant congestion was reported on National Highway 48 towards Delhi, Narsinghpur Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Vatika Chowk, Iffco Chowk, Sohna Road, Basai, Khandsa Road, and Pataudi Road. Virender Vij, DCP (traffic), assured that teams were deployed at major locations to monitor waterlogging spots and coordinate with civic authorities to drain out the water. "The situation is now manageable," he said, as per news agency PTI.
The city administration's efforts to tackle the waterlogging issue have come under scrutiny. On July 2, the district administration appointed 14 officers and an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) as nodal officers to ensure early draining of water in case of flooding at 112 locations. However, the latest deluge suggests these measures have not been effective.
"I would like to say to the district administration, Gurugram, stop fooling the residents of Gurugram and start work on the ground. A few kilometres of travelling took hours today, which is ridiculous," said Nitin Dang, a resident of Sector 31, as quoted by news agency IANS. A representative of Sector 51's Residents Welfare Association (RWA) added, "It is scary to walk in waterlogged streets as it can claim someone's life due to electric shock. Stormwater drains are either damaged or have not been cleaned. No action has been taken by any authority despite complaints and reminders."
Despite deploying over 1,000 traffic personnel at major junctions and coordinating with civic authorities, the waterlogging problem persists in Gurugram's infrastructure.