GURGAON: Nearly three years after the project was awarded, GMDA is set to finish redevelopment work on the 2.5km Sanath road, connecting Atlas Chowk on NH8 to Delhi-Gurgaon road, by the end of May.

Proposed as the ‘model street’ in 2019, the revamp was aimed to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility. But the project encountered several hurdles leading to repeated setbacks. Factors contributing to the delay are involvement of multiple agencies responsible for different components of the project, challenges posed by the pandemic, annual construction bans and the monsoon.

GMDA has been tasked with various aspects of redevelopment like construction of stormwater drains, road strengthening, tabletop crossings and streetlight installation.

MCG is responsible for laying a new sewer line and cleaning the existing ones. Meanwhile, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) is handling the shifting of overhead electrical cables underground, while the Raahgiri Foundation spearheaded the development of footpaths and cycle tracks, as well as landscaping of the green belt through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

GMDA had awarded the project to an agency in May 2021. The overall redevelopment project was supposed to be completed within 18 months at a cost of around Rs 22 crore.

While MCG could complete its part by November last year, DHBVN concluded their task by October. Furthermore, a garbage dump was cleared in January this year by MCG.

According to a GMDA official, 85% of the redevelopment project has been completed, and the remaining is likely to be over within one and a half months.

“The completion of underground utilities was necessary before strengthening the road and working on the footpaths and cycle tracks. This took some time as different agencies were involved in the project. Now most of the work has been completed, and only some portions of the footpath, streetlights work, and final layering of asphalt are pending. We are hoping to finish the remaining work by the end of May,” a senior GMDA official said.

The Sanath Road, crucial for its commercial and industrial significance along with the busy Passport Seva Kendra, faces traffic congestion daily. The revamp aims to improve vehicular and non-motorized movement, with organised parking and waiting areas. The upgrade is expected to ease traffic, enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and aesthetics of the area.

Sarika Panda Bhatt, co-founder of the Raahgiri Foundation, said the redevelopment of Sanath Road stands out as a unique project developed through a public-private partnership.

“It involved collaboration among four departments and private organisations to redevelop one of the most complex streets in the city. The project has yielded numerous benefits, including reduced road accidents and air pollution, enhanced safety for women, improved water and waste management, ecological enhancements, and a boosted economy,” she said.