Gurgaon: Haryana govt has set a 30-day deadline to upgrade 100 roads in the city identified as being in poor condition, while introducing financial penalties for employees found negligent in resolving civic complaints.The directions were issued by Haryana CM’s chief principal secretary Rajesh Khullar at a meeting with officials of MCG, GMDA and HSVP at the PWD Rest House on Thursday. The three agencies have been asked to identify 100 roads, each at least 500 metres long, for improvement by Nov 7.The exercise will involve more than pothole filling and patchwork. The identified roads will undergo comprehensive improvements, including recarpeting or end-to-end pavement work, street lighting, lane markings, footpaths, signage and beautification. Encroachments and garbage along the stretches will also have to be cleared.An information board with a QR code will be installed on each of the 100 roads. Residents will be able to access details of the work, the concerned department and officer, and the scheduled start and completion dates. Officials said the move seeks to strengthen accountability by identifying the agency responsible for each project.“The 100 roads will include roads falling under the jurisdiction of GMDA, MCG and HSVP, with all three agencies working in coordination to achieve the target of completing the works by Nov 7,” Khullar said at the meeting.Khullar has also ordered the development of 10 “iconic roads” with comprehensive improvements. The plan includes designated smoking and non-smoking zones, fines for violations, wheelchair facilities and prominent display of rules and penalties. Enforcement personnel will use body cameras, while fines will be collected only through online modes. Within MCG limits, fines have also been proposed for spitting in public places.Officials were also directed to launch a “24-hour challenge” for civic complaints. Residents will be able to report major garbage accumulation points, large potholes, sewage overflows, defunct streetlights and tree-pruning requirements. Depending on the nature of a complaint, officials will have 24, 48 or 72 hours to resolve it.An online platform has been proposed through which residents can upload photographs and location details of civic problems. Providing a name and mobile number will be optional. Employees found negligent during reviews could face recovery of Rs 5,000, with the amount to be paid to the complainant.The meeting also proposed a “Hamare 500 Metre Area” campaign under which RWAs, schools, market associations and other institutions would be involved in maintaining areas within a 500-metre radius of their premises. Officials said the initiative would encourage greater community participation in civic upkeep.The proposals come against a backdrop of recurring complaints over potholes, garbage accumulation, sewage overflows and malfunctioning streetlights. Residents said the initiative should be judged by whether civic issues remain resolved beyond the 30-day period.Rajesh Gera, a resident of Surya Vihar, said a complaint he filed on the Swachh City Portal about garbage dumped on Old Delhi-Gurgaon Road around three months ago remained unresolved. “I have been using this portal for years now. Earlier, the monitoring of complaints registered on the portal was strict, and the follow-up too was strong. However, the complaints are not paid heed to. Garbage is openly being dumped on the roads,” Gera said.
