Admin’s apathy sparks rage

Residents, who blocked the Gurgaon -Faridabad expressway on Wednesday morning, alleged that the administration has been collecting exorbitant external development charges from them for development of neighbourhood roads and other public facilities.

“Residents of block G and H paid taxes while purchasing houses, but not even a divider has been constructed outside the H block gate. There is an urgent need to construct a divider to separate traffic moving in opposite directions,” said Anupam Suri, resident of H block.

According to SHO Surender Phogat, DLF City Phase 1, the expressway witnesses an average of four accidents a month. Recently, in a hit-and-run case, a man died on the spot when a speeding car hit him outside the Qutab Plaza gate.

In another incident on Sunday, a 23-year-old girl was seriously injured when a speeding truck hit her rickshaw near Silver Oaks.

“This protest was much needed as we do not know who to approach,” said RS Rathee, president of the Gurgaon citizen’s council, who was present at the protest with presidents of various Residents Welfare Associations of Gurgaon.

PK Goyal, chief commercial manager, northern railways and a resident of G block, elaborating on the requirements of the residents, said, “Earlier, this used to be an internal colony road with proper street lights. After the construction of the new road, trees were felled and street or traffic lights gone.

We have three basic requirements — an over-bridge or an underpass at the Qutab Plaza crossing, rumble strips to slow down speeding vehicles and traffic lights.”

Finally, Huda administrator, Praveen Kumar arrived on the expressway to listen to the residents’ grievances. An area outside the Qutab plaza gate has been dug up to construct a traffic light post.