Haryana seeks realignment of road cutting Aravalli park

GURUGRAM: In the wake of strong concerns raised by environmental activists and city residents, the Haryana government has decided to write to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), seeking a realignment of the road proposed to cut through the Aravalli Biodiversity Park.

In another significant move, the PWD minister too has said that his department has decided to shelve the proposal of building the road connecting Bandhwari and Damdama passing through the Aravallis.

This road starting near Ambience Mall was supposed to connect with MG Road. As per the plan, these two villages on the opposite sides would be connected by linking the Gurugramfaridabad road close to Bandhwari with Sohna Road, which is close to Damdama near Sohna.

State PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh, on Thursday, said that the government will write to the highways authority seeking a realignment of the road, so that there is minimum damage to the greenery and the environment.

The NHAI had proposed to build this 6.5-km-long road traversing along the boundary of the Rajokari Air Force station and passing through the Aravalli Biodiversity park.

The road is a part of the 40-kmlong Greater Southern Peripheral Road being planned by the highways authority to decongest Delhi.

A statement issued by Singh said that he had gone through a number of news reports highlighting the adverse impact of the proposed road connecting the NH48 with MG Road on the Aravalli Biodiversity Park, and will write to the NHAI for getting the road realigned, so that there is no damage to the park.

The minister also said that this highway was only approved to reduce congestion in Gurugram.

Singh, however, said that the realigned road connecting Ambience Mall with MG road will give an alternative to the commuters, who are suffering congestion and traffic jams daily. “We will try to ensure that this road is built in a manner that so that the green area in the biodiversity park is not damaged,” he said in the statement.

Referring to the plan connecting Bandhwari and Damdama village passing through Aravallis, Singh said that as people do not want the road to be constructed, the PWD department will not go ahead with the project.

Activists had earlier flagged the road construction project as a potential ecological disaster.