Luxurious residences worth crores, gleaming luxury cars cruising on roads, and an extravagant lifestyle—just a stone's throw from Delhi lies a city that many dream about living in. Towering glass edifices, lavish malls, and the grand offices of world-renowned companies grace this city skyline. Yet, pause a moment. The true face of this dream city emerges with the splatter of raindrops, revealing a stark contradiction to its gleam.
Once again, Millennium City Gurugram appeared helpless under the rains. On Monday, many who left work ended up stuck in traffic for hours. The situation was so dire that it took hours to cover just short distances, and numerous vehicles stalled on flooded roads. In a city where the cost of a modest 2BHK flat runs into crores—where some flats even surpass the prices of those in Burj Khalifa—the harsh truths surface when the skies weep. Waterlogging and traffic standstills have become mundane, a recurring nightmare for those who once aspired to work in Gurugram. Many helplessly spend hours trapped in their cars, battling the unyielding traffic jams.
Monday's 100mm rainfall wreaked havoc. Highways, underpasses, New Gurugram, and areas within the Old City were submerged in three feet of water. The streets, overflowing with frustrated commuters, resounded with blaring horns. While some reached home past midnight, others found themselves stuck on roads for hours. Realizing the deteriorating circumstances, the administration swiftly moved to put schools, colleges, and workplaces on online mode.
Looking at the gleaming skyscrapers and luxurious lifestyle of Gurugram, one might think this city is scripting a new definition of urban development. It houses real estate projects worth billions, luxury homes, and offices of grand start-ups where India's wealthiest reside. Yet, every rain fades this sheen. Even residents of the opulent homes must traverse the flooded streets to their destinations.
Source: aajtak
Places like Golf Course Road, DLF Phase 1 and 5, and Sushant Lok boast properties worth crores. Here, homes are priced from 5 to 50 crores, inhabited by IT executives, start-up owners, and business magnates. The question arises—why does a city with such pricy, high-tech amenities suffer from a fragile infrastructure? Proper drainage wasn't considered in Gurugram's urban planning.
Read more: Gurugram: Millennium City Drenched in 100mm Rain, 20-Kilometer Traffic Jam Ensues
Built on the land of old villages, some areas lack a drainage system altogether, while others have systems that have entirely failed. Reports suggest the drainage network here is vastly undersized for the city’s needs, making even a light shower enough to inundate the city. Luxury homes and the offices of major start-ups abound, but as soon as it rains, Gurugram’s dazzle dims. Streets flood, and traffic jams spiral out of control.
During rainy days, it takes hours to travel distances of just 5 to 10 kilometers in Gurugram. Major intersections like Hero Honda Chowk, Narsinghpur, Shankar Chowk, and Rajiv Chowk bear the brunt of the deluge. While the city glitters with luxury cars, these vehicles are often seen stranded in waterlogged streets, forcing even the affluent to abandon their prized vehicles and walk.
Read more: Is It the Rain's Fault or the City's Planning... Why Does Gurugram Turn into a 'Swimming Pool' Every Time?
Rapid, unplanned urbanization is another major culprit of this crisis. High-rise buildings and shopping complexes surrounding the city have blocked natural drainage paths. There's a lack of open spaces and greenery, providing no ground for rainwater absorption.
Solving Gurugram's woes isn’t just about making big promises. The government and city authorities need to collaborate and establish a robust, modern drainage system. Furthermore, there should be initiatives to widen roads and improve traffic management. Until Gurugram fortifies its basic infrastructure, even the residents of multi-crore homes will remain distressed whenever it rains.
