New Delhi: A key gateway into the capital has turned into a civic nightmare, with overflowing sewage, cratered roads and chronic traffic snarls crippling movement near the Dera Mandi toll plaza on the Delhi-Haryana border. For months, wastewater from a drain has flooded a busy stretch in the area, forcing thousands of commuters to navigate the stagnant water, while residents say foul odour, civic apathy and even accidents have become part of their everyday life.Around 9km from Chhatarpur metro station, the situation in the area near the toll plaza connecting Delhi with Gurgaon has worsened, with the ongoing drainage work leaving nearly half the carriageway excavated and forcing vehicles to squeeze through a narrow stretch riddled with potholes, muddy patches and stagnant water.Residents claimed the problem of overflowing sewage had persisted for months, with some saying it had remained unresolved for over a year despite repeated complaints to multiple govt agencies.When TOI visited the spot Monday afternoon, cars, buses, trucks, autos and two-wheelers jostled for space, while pedestrians walked along the edge of the open drain or balanced on broken concrete slabs placed by locals to cross it. Residents said the deteriorating conditions had increased the risk of accidents, hampered emergency vehicle movement and turned the daily commute into a test of patience.For families living along the stretch, the ordeal begins the moment they step outside home. “For the past four months, the road has been dug up, the drain is lying open and construction debris has been dumped right outside our house. People keep falling while trying to cross the broken road. I also slipped and got injured,” said 35-year-old Chandni.A 47-year-old resident said even a short walk to the nearby market had become risky. “If someone loses balance on broken concrete slabs, he can fall straight into the drain. Every time we step out, we have to walk through dirty drain water. It has become especially dangerous for children and elderly people,” she said.Residents alleged they had repeatedly approached Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Public Works Department, flood department, the local MLA and the councillor, but without much result. They said internal roads had also been damaged during the drainage work, worsening accessibility.For thousands travelling between Delhi and Gurgaon daily, the stretch has become synonymous with delays. “I travel every day between Delhi and Cyber City in Gurgaon for work, and this has become the most frustrating part of my commute,” said a commuter. “During the rush hours, it easily takes more than an hour to cross. There is hardly any space for vehicles to move, and the constant honking makes the situation worse.”Another person, working near the toll plaza since March, said congestion worsened during peak hours as traffic from Delhi and Gurgaon converged at the border. “Traffic comes to a complete standstill. Since this is also a residential area, local traffic adds to the congestion. School buses often cannot enter the colony and have to drop children on the main road. The endless honking, foul smell from the drain and traffic chaos make it difficult even to stand here for long.”Mandi councillor Sunder Singh Tanwar said the issue involved multiple agencies, including MCD, PWD and the flood department. “The problem has arisen because of the large volume of water, and the drainage system is also connected to Haryana. A Rs 12-crore project has been sanctioned, and three meetings have already been held with PWD and other departments. As an interim measure, the damaged road will be repaired within a week,” he said.“Over the next three-four months, a new drain will be constructed to divert the wastewater to the Jonapur drain. Meanwhile, the tender for a pump house has been floated, and the accumulated water will be pumped onto forest department land,” Tanwar added.A PWD official said, “One of the key reasons for the waterlogging is that the service lane, which was constructed some time ago, is at a higher level than the main carriageway. The lane doesn’t fall under PWD’s jurisdiction.” A permanent pumping station is being planned for the stretch, he added. “Discussions are also underway with the Haryana authorities to set up a connection to also divert excess water to the drain there.”Neither MCD nor the flood department responded on the matter.
