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Gurugram’s problems persist throughout the year, but worsen during the monsoon months. The city has been built without adequate systems for managing rainwater runoff.
Gurugram: Once upon a time, driving along the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway was a pleasant experience. The wide, four-lane, two-way expressway from Dhaula Kuan to Gurugram and then onwards to Jaipur, completed in 2010, provided residents with a transformative connection between the two major urban centres and quickly became one of India’s busiest intercity routes.
At the turn of the century, a combination of forward-thinking policies, visionary leadership, and land available at reasonable prices propelled Gurugram to become a centre for multinational corporations, Fortune 500 companies, and global investors. Its proximity to Delhi and the planned urban road infrastructure transformed this once-quiet agricultural town into a striking, modern metropolis that symbolises India’s emerging economy. Its remarkable transformation into a leading urban, financial, and technological hub earned Gurugram the nickname the Millennium City.
It was, indeed, a symbol of the new millennium. The nickname helped to brand it as a city built for progress and the future. The influx of corporate wealth led to the development of a modern, upscale lifestyle. The city experienced rapid construction of high-end housing, luxury shopping centres, entertainment complexes like CyberHub, and a vibrant social scene, all catering to a young, affluent workforce. A significant part of Gurugram’s development was carried out by private real estate developers, who built corporate parks, residential communities, and provided essential infrastructure, including electricity and water. This distinguished it from many older Indian cities that grew more organically, and helped reinforce its image as a carefully planned, forward-looking city.
Today, the city is home to leading IT and technology companies, including Google, Meta, Infosys, IBM, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, and many others. It functions as a manufacturing centre for automobiles, with Maruti Suzuki operating its plant and headquarters there. The city also hosts numerous financial and consultancy firms, including American Express, Deloitte, HDFC, KPMG, and others. It is home to travel agencies, food delivery services, the offices of major airlines, and various government organisations like HUDA (now HSVP-Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran). Its proximity to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport further enhances the city’s appeal.
But the city is now in decline. Driving on the expressway from Gurgaon to Delhi takes ages. No apparent consideration has been given to the feeder roads, nor to the exits and entry points on the expressway. A five-kilometre journey along Sohna Road, linking on to the expressway, can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. The traffic at Rajiv Chowk is a nightmare. An underpass has been constructed to connect both sides of Gurugram on either side of the expressway, but this has only worsened an already chaotic situation. The direct underpass to Delhi goes via another road—the Ch. Bakhtawar Singh Road—that passes in front of Medanta hospital, but that route is seldom used by Delhi-bound commuters. The Sohna Road is the one that is used, but there is no underpass here for Delhi. Despite extensive expenditure—thousands of crores on flyovers and underpasses—the traffic planning has been flawed, lacking proper consideration of traffic flow, resulting in a colossal mess that seems unsolvable. Worse, the chowk is a hot spot for accidents, and no one can be held accountable. And that is the story of the entire stretch of the expressway in Gurugram.
Driving on the expressway is no longer enjoyable. It has become a burden that commuters must endure. However, Gurugram’s internal roads are significantly worse and plagued by numerous problems. They are riddled with potholes; the pavements are crowded with hawkers and vendors, traffic signals are poorly coordinated, traffic discipline is lacking, and the entry and exit points linking main roads to feeder roads are poorly designed. The beautiful colonies that have developed all across Gurugram stand in stark contrast to the damaged roads outside. Inside the city, traffic moves at a snail’s pace, covering a short distance of about five to seven kilometres, taking between 20 minutes and an hour. This results in a considerable waste of time and fuel. The pollution caused by idling vehicles worsens an already critical situation.
This problem persists throughout the year, but it worsens during the monsoon months. The city has been built without adequate systems for managing rainwater runoff. The drains and sewage systems overflow onto the streets, causing traffic delays that can last for hours. Continuous waterlogging also presents health hazards. This is not what a millennial city should be. Solutions are not easy to find, but they must be identified. The issue is not with the political parties, but the solution needs to be bipartisan and require an all-of-government and all-of-people approach.
As a long-term strategy, a ban should be introduced on all new residential developments, including planned societies and private flats. While this alone will not solve the problem, it would prevent it from worsening further. However, this decision will not be easy to make. Therefore, a political consensus is necessary, and all parties must agree to implement such a measure. Ideally, even the courts should endorse it.
An improved administration is needed in Gurugram. A major reform that could be adopted nationwide is to station senior officers in the field and assign junior officers to manage desk jobs in the national and regional capitals. This shift would result in faster and more decisive decisions at the district level. Focus should be on proper road repairs to prevent deterioration again in the next rainy season. Ideally, larger contractors should undertake this responsibility and be held accountable for their work.
Traffic discipline is a major challenge. Commuters openly ignore traffic rules, and authorities are either unwilling or unable to enforce them. This situation must change, with repeat offenders losing their driving licences. The traffic police need to be ruthless in enforcing the law. Additionally, traffic lights across Gurugram should be upgraded to Intelligent Traffic Light Systems (ITLS). These systems use sensors, cameras, communication networks, and artificial intelligence to optimise traffic control by adapting in real-time to actual traffic conditions, rather than relying solely on fixed timers.
The city lacks an efficient public transport system. The bus service needs to be improved and should include mini-buses running at regular intervals. The metro rail system—the yellow line connecting Delhi and Gurugram—is the only positive aspect in an otherwise inadequate public transportation network. However, this line ends at the Millennium City Centre. Plans are underway to extend it, and these should be expedited. The lack of public transport forces residents to use their cars or two-wheelers, which worsens road congestion. The city needs a coordinated transportation system that is both affordable and reliable.
Footpaths should be kept clear of hawkers. All residential welfare associations should be integrated into a systematic structure that authorises them to prevent hawkers from occupying specific stretches of roads. The same measures must be implemented in shopping complexes, ensuring that no vehicles are parked on the road and that vendors are not permitted within 50 metres of road crossings. This will significantly reduce accidents, enhance traffic flow, and help decongest the area.Â
Finally, a well-structured plan should be developed in collaboration with experts who understand traffic and its management to improve the road network, especially in areas where traffic enters and exits main roads. Additionally, a plan should be in place to build the necessary infrastructure for drainage and to prevent waterlogging. All of this will require significant financial resources, which must be secured. Gurugram is the city that generates around 60% of Haryana’s total revenue. If companies relocate from Gurugram to areas with better infrastructure, the city would gradually decline, along with the revenue it generates for the state. This must not happen. An efficient administration and a vigilant public are essential for Gurugram to maintain its reputation as the millennium city. We have no time to lose. We must save our city. Now.Â
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* Maj Gen Dhruv C. Katoch is an Army veteran. He is presently the Director of the India Foundation.
