mehrauli mahipalpur road widening project

Eco Collective of Citizens of Vasant Kunj

[email protected]

MAEHRAULI – MAHIPALPUR ROAD WIDENING PROJECT

-HIGHWAY CUTTING ACROSS A

RESIDENTIAL COLONY

BUT

A ROAD TO NOWHERE

Mehrauli Mahipalpur Road being widened from approx. 23 m metaled road to 75 m ROW road• Phase I – Andheria Mor to Fortis Hospital (approx. 2.2 km)• Phase II – Fortis Hospital to Ryan School (approx. 3.3 km)• Phase III – Ryan school to Shiv Murti at NH 8 – cutting

across the ridge area

MEHRAULI – MAHIPALPUR ROAD IN CONTEXT TO VASANT KUNJ

Vasant Kunj in Context of New Delhi

Mehrauli – Mahipalpur Road in context of Vasant Kunj

• This road is the main spine road of Vasant Kunj

• There are residential sectors that are inter-dependent with social facilities on both sides of road

• Vasant Kunj has approx. eighteen schools and three hospitals.

• Population stratification is such that considerable segment of citizens are senior citizens and young families with small children.

GOVERNMENT PLANNING TIMELINE

Information source: Approved drawing – PWD/012

ROAD PLANNING PROCESS TIMELINE HIGHLIGHTS

• 24th Working Group II B Meeting dated 27th Oct. 2010• Proposal discussed and in principle approval. List of land to be

acquired, land acquisition, necessary statutory approvals to be taken was to be done by NHAI.

• This indicates that this 75 m ROW road was conceptualized as a part of the network of highways to relieve the traffic on highways. NHAI’s mandate is for highways. Why was a highway planned cutting across an urban residential area?



• 34th Working Group II B Meeting dated 17th Feb. 2012• DPR of the project to be prepared by DIMTS• This new link road is not a Master Plan / Zonal Plan road.

However this new link as a relief road would provide an important link connecting Gurgaon / Dwarka with South Delhi.

• When this road was proposed it was not a Master Plan road. But all along in residents’ interactions with government authorities they were told that it was a Master Plan road. The above definition also puts it in a category of Primary collector and should not be more than 40 m ROW. Why not use highways, proposed 100 m ROW road parallel to this road and MehrauliGurgaon road for this purpose.


ROAD PLANNING PROCESS TIMELINE HIGHLIGHTS• 42nd Working Group II B Meeting dated 18th Feb. 2013

• instead of finalizing the cross-section of this road, a detailed road development plan as per street guidelines of UTTIPEC to be prepared with 2-3 options.

• To resolve the matter, tree cutting and clearing of sites may be stopped and a meeting may be called in the office of Secretary PWD where all stakeholders be called.

• Prepare Stage III detail plan as per format for submission for further discussion in the WG and final approval by the Governing Body based on the recommendations of WG

• Work is apparently happening just with single line drawings. Detailed drawings, services plan, detailed cross sections if prepared are not available for the public.

• Where is the Stage III detail plan? If that has not been done why Phase I has been taken up?


ROAD PLANNING PROCESS TIMELINE HIGHLIGHTS• 43rd Governing Body Meeting dated 10th May 2013

• The Zonal development plan 75 m ROW may be reduced based on a comprehensive review of network and feasibility check for the entire network.

• The detailed intersection design of Andheria Mor and Aruna AsafAli Road to be prepared.

• Phase II and III proposal of the corridor to be proposed and finalized based on the comprehensive network plan of the area.

• Is comprehensive review of network and feasibility check for the entire network done? Public does not have access to it.

• Is Phase II and III proposal finalized based on comprehensive network plan of the area? Public does not have access to it.


On drawings intersection between Aruna Asaf Ali Road and the road being widened.

Truncated 75 m ROW. How would it be taken further ahead?

Why is construction being done with such drawings?


• 44th Governing Body Meeting dated 22nd Aug. 2013• Submission made by PWD agreed by the Governing Body - ‘The

Zonal plan of 75 m ROW may be maintained by providing green strips on both sides of development with the ROW as per the conceptual plan presented in the meeting and a comprehensive network plan and feasibility check for the entire corridor to be made.’

• Where is the Comprehensive network plan and Feasibility Check for the entire corridor? Consolidated Green belts are also not being provided.


ROAD EXECUTION EVENTS TIMELINE

DECEMBER 2012 - APRIL, 2013• PWD initiates reclaiming 75 m ROW from Chattarpur side.• Work not initiated on initial approx. 1km stretch from Andheria

Mor. That stretch has farmhouses and nurseries on both sides.• Bulldozers start working to demolish boundary walls of the starting

sectors of Vasant Kunj after farmhouses and nurseries.• Frantic cutting of trees • Residents try to find the reason for this sudden activity• Residents number trees• Residents contact RWAs for knowing the administrative status

and are informed that Road Widening project has started and RWAs had been informed.

DECEMBER 2012 - APRIL, 2013• Residents meet LG, CM and other administrative nodal authorities

but face apathy.• Concerned residents try to create awareness through peace

marches, leaflets, public meeting.• Public view is divided and RWAs of some sectors apparently aid

PWD demolitions• Residents resist political parties efforts to politicize the issue• Residents try to interact with PWD and nodal body UTTIPEC to

have participatory planning process.

DECEMBER 2012 – APRIL, 2013• Residents try to get project information through RTIs, but no

conclusive information obtained.• Residents meet lawyers to understand legal route.• Sector DII residents file a case in court against demolition of the

fence of their sector and get stay• Sector DIII residents file a case as the road alignment consumes

the land originally shown by DDA on drawings as sector land• A green activist files case in NGT regarding cutting of trees

without clearance from Forest Department and gets stay for the project

• Cases are filed by other establishments along the road alignment

Trees Numbered by Residents Painted Over

Photographs – Feb, 2014

Storm water drains leading to nowherePhotographs – Feb, 2014

Tarred Road and Kerb Stones Abutting Transmission TowersPhotographs – Feb, 2014

Deactivated Traffic Intersection

Despite Court Stay Work Happening in February, 2014Photographs – Feb, 2014

Quality of Work? - Trees at Risk


Nurseries Functioning From Road Edge not Touched, But Bus Stop used by Daily Commuters and School Children broken

for a year

Farmhouses Abutting the Road not touched, But DDA Boundary Walls Demolished

Demolished Wall and Park Exposed


Green Areas turned into Barren LandPhotographs – Feb, 2014

MAY 2013 – MARCH 2014

• Despite court stay, sporadic construction activity going on• More trees are cut• PWD Chief’s office apparently unaware of above events• Frantic activity in March 2014, whole carpeted width opened up for

traffic and one major traffic light junction deactivated• Stay on cutting of trees is vacated and permission granted for cutting

of +800 trees for widening road of about 2 km of stretch. +200 trees had already been cut without permission from Forest department.

• Order given to do compensatory plantation of 1000 trees and transplantation of +100 trees.

APRIL 2014 – MARCH 2015

• Cutting of trees starts at frantic pace.• Residents approach Appellate Authority regarding the issue that

trees even other than marked trees being cut and for raising the issue that transplantation of trees has not been successful, but no action taken.

• Residents file case in High court and stay granted for cutting of more trees.

• But work going on.• High court appoints Sunita Narain of CSE as the Amicus Curiae

for the case

Healthy big trees being cut

Photographs – Dec, 2014

Dhalaoremoved from this

area

Garbage being

thrown here

32

Dhalao was removed to construct the MUZ (Multi Utility Zone) along the boundary wall and garbage is being thrown in the open. Wasn’t this MUZ to be a consolidated Green Belt?


Such mounds of malba lying along the road make this whole area susceptible for bronchial

problems.

Malba being deposited in the median. Can any greenery

grow or survive in this malba?

33Photographs – Feb, 2015

34

MUZ stretch being made on either side of road. But, as per MOM of 44th

Governing Body Meeting dated 22nd Aug., 2013 (As shown on drawings), PWD had got the road width changed back to 75 m ROW with the assurance that on both sides would be Green Belt. But on drawings it is shown as MUZ and is being executed like that. Then where will compensatory plantation of trees be done and where would be the Green buffer from traffic on 75 m wide road.


Water pipeline blocking the path. Clear view in the side photograph.

An MUZ to nowhere…. Alongwith waterpipeline there is an electricity pole which isprecariously unbalanced now. Withoutshifting utilities why civil work has beengoing on at fast speed working day andnight?

Why such waste of public money?35Photographs – Feb, 2015

Lanes being made to nowhere…..

Lanes are being made, kerb stonesare being laid but these are abuttingthe farmhouse walls or nurserieswhere land has not been acquired.

Farmhouse wall

Farmhouse wall

Farmhousewall


February 2014February 2015

Nurseries have not been shifted

37

February 2014

February 2015

Services have not been shifted

38

Bus stop was here


In 2014 Bus stop was broken, but now it has been demolished. Some other bus stops have also been demolished. This causes lot of inconvenience to public including senior citizens, children etc.

39


Bad quality work and trees damaged. How can a storm water drain of such quality function effectively?

40

Open drains and cables are safety hazards for pedestrians



Road stretch and storm water drain to nowhere……. As the transmission tower has not been shifted

Open manholes are safety hazard

42

Dividers have been broken at different places. Vehicles turn from there causing traffic jams and increasing chance of accidents.


The Funnel effect while approaching Aruna Asaf Ali road intersection. Traffic moving in MUZ area made open to public.


Bad detailing or no thought given to detailing – but the focus is on doing kerb stone work – at present required or not


Exposed tree roots and trees getting damaged by acidic content of garbage – Are these trees counted as being saved?


December 2014

March 2015Speed of devastation…….

Tarring of road around trees – Work even happening after light time

Photographs – April, 2015

How can these trees be saved?

Photographs – April, 2015

ROAD WIDTH GUIDELINES

ROAD WIDTH GUIDELINES - UTTIPEC

• Arterial Roads – Primary Roads• Vehicular routes carrying heavy volumes of traffic will generally have

free/stable flow conditions with controlled access.• Recommended ROW in existing urban areas is 60-80 m and minimum

80 m in the proposed Urban extension• Present ring road and outer ring road to be converted to access

controlled arterial roads.• Arterial Roads – Other Primary Roads

• Vehicular routes carrying heavy volumes of traffic.• Recommended ROW in existing urban area is 45-60 m and minimum 60

m in the proposed urban extension.

Ref. Street Design Guidelines “… for equitable distribution of Road Space” – NUTPRevision 1: Nov. 2010

ROAD WIDTH GUIDELINES - UTTIPEC

• Sub - Arterial Roads – Primary Collector• Roads connecting major arterial roads and inter-residential

collectors.• Recommended ROW in existing urban areas is 30-40 m and

minimum 45 m in the proposed Urban extension

Ref. Street Design Guidelines “… for equitable distribution of Road Space” – NUTP

Revision 1: Nov. 2010

As per these guidelines, this road can be categorized as Primary Collector Road and recommended ROW is 30 – 40 m.

Then why is this road being widened to 75 m ROW – WIDER THAN RING ROAD OR OUTER RING ROAD

GLARING REVELATIONS TILL THIS POINT• Focus only on Phase I. No comprehensive plan for all three

phases.• Work on Phase I started but land acquisition for more than 20% of

initial stretch on Phase I not initiated. That stretch has farmhouses and nurseries.

• Order for cutting 810 trees came in August 2014 while the alignment and broad design were approved in Nov, 2014.

• Probably trees that are not even marked for cutting are being cut. • The trees that are not cut are being tarred on all sides. How would

these trees survive?• Shifting of utilities not done even till this stage and tarring of road

being done.

How can work be awarded without approvals, preparation of drawings and land acquisition for the project

Why isn’t there a comprehensive time schedule and development plan for all three phases

Why isn’t public the main stakeholder consulted on development projects and why don’t they have access to information on PWD

website

How can work be started in the middle of road alignment

Development needs to inclusive with respect for environment and requirements of people

Public money should not be wasted in name of development

There has to be a system of making planning and executing authorities accountable for the project outcomes

PWD, UTTIPEC, NGT, Forest Department….pls look into concerns of the public

Thank You

Pls. sign the petition on http://www.change.org/p/minister-of-urban-development-mr-vankaiah-naidu-chief-minister-of-delhi-mr-arvind-kejriwal-stop-the-mehrauli-mahipalpur-road-widening-project-and-conduct-its-technical-financial-and-

administrative-audit

mehrauli mahipalpur road widening project

Government & Nonprofit

relief road

metaled road

master plan road

mehrauli mahipalpur

row road phase

new link road

mehrauli gurgaon road

row road parallel