This is what the New York Times had to say about Gurgaon in 2011: ‘Apartment towers are sprouting like concrete weeds, and a futuristic commercial hub called Cyber City houses many of the world’s most respected corporations. Gurgaon, located about 15 miles south of the national Capital, New Delhi, would seem to have everything, except consider what it does not have: a functioning citywide sewer or drainage system; reliable electricity or water; and public sidewalks, adequate parking, decent roads or any citywide system of public transportation.’
Cut to 2014. Despite its shiny skyscrapers and multitudes of MNCs, not much has changed in Gurgaon. It still lags behind Delhi and Noida when it comes to public transport infrastructure. The locals, particularly the daily commuters between Gurgaon and Delhi, are a hassled lot. There is no proper bus service and people are forced to travel by autorickshaws and cabs to reach their destination, which turns out to be a costly affair. Due to this, commuters are left with no option other than to share crowded autos, buses and other means of transport.
People, The Pioneer spoke to, said the main hindrance in using Metro service was non-availability of feeder service from the Metro station. Commuters also said no proximity to Metro stations from their residence also stopped them from availing the service. Women feel unsafe while sharing autos as most of them are overcrowded, and drivers seldom follow rules. Buses for the intercity routes hardly ply on the roads. Not only this, auto drivers also charge exorbitant fares from commuters. The poor service of Metro feeder has also become a major concern for commuters.
Vritant Srivastava, a resident of Manesar, said there is no direct connectivity from Manesar to any of the Metro stations in Gurgaon. “Getting passengers to their employers may seem like it’s a no-brainer for operators of mass transit systems, but the reality is far more complex. I need to change two autorickshaws to reach a Metro station,” he said, adding, “Old Gurgaon bus stand is where one can get buses and autos to different areas. The buses to Delhi are only available from here and the services are infrequent.”
The five stations of Delhi Metro network — Guru Dronacharya, Sikandarpur, MG Road, IFFCO Chowk and HUDA City Centre — have no connectivity to a large part of the city and so is the case with the newly started Gurgaon Rapid Metro. Often the dependence on private vehicles for last mile connectivity is enormous compromising the safety of women. “Chain snatching and mugging are all too frequent at night hours,” said Akansha Bhati, a local resident.
Neha Bansiwal, a resident of Sector 5, said public transport is abysmal as one needs to wait for a shared auto or a Haryana Roadways bus. “The myopia of the Transport Department is inconveniencing us,” she rued.Gurgaon might be an urban showpiece but until it corrects sprawl and upgrades a less-than-stellar transport system, it will continue to slip on the global stage.