Gurgaon: For thousands of office-goers heading to Udyog Vihar phases 1, 2 and 3, the daily commute has become an ordeal, with the main access road marred by potholes, uneven patches, damaged footpaths and vehicles parked along the carriageway.The nearly 1.5-km Sirhaul-Kapashera border road, which carries heavy office traffic, shows signs of neglect almost immediately after the entry from the Kapashera side. Additionally, streetlights are not functional on this stretch, making it difficult for motorists to gauge the potholes.A few metres after entering Udyog Vihar, an unlevelled manhole has become a prominent problem. The raised cover forces motorists to slow abruptly and eats into the usable carriageway. The road was resurfaced in 2024, along with the construction of a footpath and surface drain, at a cost of around Rs 6 crore.Further ahead, buses and cars parked along the edges occupy portions of the carriageway, leaving motorists to negotiate parked vehicles and potholes at the same time. During busy hours, the constricted space causes frequent bottlenecks. Vehicles also kick up dust from the broken surface and the loose dirt along the edges, adding to pollution in the area.“The potholes are contributing to increased dust pollution. Since the rains have stopped, vehicles passing through the potholes and damaged stretches are kicking up a lot of dust. If people get stuck in traffic and are unable to reach their offices on time, it ultimately affects productivity as well. Moreover, this road should be developed as model road as international clients uses this stretch, and this is first impression they get when they enter Udyog Vihar,” said Praveen Yadav, president of Gurgaon Udyog Association.Pedestrians face a separate set of problems. The footpath is broken in several places, and garbage has been dumped or left strewn on portions of it. With the footpath hard to use, pedestrians are forced to walk on the carriageway, close to moving and parked vehicles. The central verge is also in a messy condition, adding to the poor appearance of an important approach to one of the city’s major office hubs.“Now rains have stopped, authorities should fixed the roads on priority,” said Aman Trehan, who works in Udyog Vihar 3.A GMDA official said repair work was already underway at several locations. “We have already started patchwork in the city and this road will also be taken up. Moreover, we are working with Raahgiri, over the design of the road including footpath,” the official said.
