GURGAON: Two foot overbridges constructed just three years ago in Gurgaon will be pulled down to pave the way for the city’s upcoming Metro corridor, in a peculiar infrastructure development that has raised questions about how pedestrian movement will be maintained during the transition.The two foot overbridges are near the Alpine Public School in Sector 9 and Greenwood Public School in Sector 10 near Basai Pond.They are part of the proposed Metro alignment between Umang Bhardwaj Chowk and Basai Flyover. There’s a Metro station planned for this stretch, too.Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority has permitted Gurgaon Metro Rail Ltd to dismantle the structures as they are obstructing the Metro corridor alignment.The development is significant, especially because the two foot overbridges were constructed only in 2023 as part of a much bigger road infrastructure project worth Rs 114 crore.The project included widening of roads between Umang Bhardwaj Chowk and Dwarka Expressway with a flyover and a railroad bridge over Delhi-Rewari railroad line.FOBs were meant to provide safe crossing to pedestrians in and around Alpine Public School, Basai Pond and adjoining residential sectors.The decision means infrastructure built to solve pedestrian movement will have to be torn out because of another major infrastructure project. But authorities have said pedestrians will not be left without options.The GMDA has directed the GMRL to construct two new foot overbridges at the approved locations on the same Metro corridor.GMDA issued a communication dated August 12, which said the GMRL will have to bear the cost of dismantling the existing structures as well as constructing and commissioning the two replacement FOBs.The Metro corporation will also be responsible for the storage and transportation of the dismantled material.It is a big problem for residents of sectors 37C, 37D, 9, 9A and 10 who use the existing crossings. The foot overbridges were designed to facilitate the crossing of a busy road corridor for residents and students, especially around schools and Basai Pond.Any lag between the demolition of the old structures and the commissioning of the replacements could therefore create a concern for pedestrian safety.In June, GMRL had written to GMDA seeking early dismantling of the two FOBs saying the structures were “infringing” the Metro corridor alignment.This is part of the larger 30-km Gurgaon Metro project, which will connect Millenium City Center Station to Cyber Hub in a loop. The first phase will go toward Sector 9, with a separate spur planned toward Dwarka Expressway.The episode is also an indicator of a bigger problem that cities like Gurgaon face as they grow at a fast clip. Roads, flyovers, footbridges and Metro corridors are coming up more and more within the same limited urban space.Sometimes new transport infrastructure has to be redesigned, relocated or removed to make way for newer projects.So, the immediate question for Gurgaon residents is when the new Metro station will come up and whether the replacement crossings will be ready before the existing FOBs are gone.
