Gurugram flyover giving way, second scare in 13 months

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, May 8

For the second time in the past 13 months, a part of the busy Hero Honda flyover on the New Delhi-Jaipur national highway here gave way on Wednesday. The local authorities have barricaded the damaged section of the flyover, resulting in a logjam between Hero Honda Chowk and Kherki Daula toll plaza. The repair has started.

The police have deployed extra force to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Gurugram residents, meanwhile, have taken to social media to vent their ire. They seek answers from the authorities on the poor quality of construction.

The poor quality of construction has provided the Congress with fodder to hit out at the BJP government in the state. Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Congress candidate from Gurugram, said: “This is the quality of the BJP government’s development. And look at the irony. It is seeking votes on the basis of development projects. In the haste of inaugurating projects, the BJP has put lives of people at risk. An inquiry must be ordered into the quality of construction.”

In April 2018, four months after its inauguration, the flyover had developed a hole. Then, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had roped in a team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, to suggest remedial measures. The team had reportedly said the hole was a “localised damage”.

The NHAI has not issued any statement in connection with Wednesday’s incident.