On Monday, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini declared that the Haryana government will commence the process of land acquisition to construct long-awaited 24-metre-wide roads in the licensed colonies of the city, with the expenses to be recouped from the builders.
During his budget speech, Saini mentioned that a lasting solution to the issue of narrow access roads will be developed in the fiscal year 2026–27. He highlighted that numerous licensed colonies in the city currently depend on access roads that narrow down to merely two karam (approximately 3.3 metres) at certain points and four karam (around 6.7 metres) at others, resulting in difficulties for lakhs of residents. Saini remarked that this issue was not present under the Master Plan 2001, when the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) acquired land and constructed 18-metre internal roads throughout various sectors.
The Master Plan 2021 was enacted in 2007, even as the city experienced rapid growth, and it did not include provisions for the necessary expansion of roads, specifically the 24-metre roads for internal sectors. The expenses associated with such acquisitions were not incorporated into the external development charges (EDC) imposed on private developers. The Chief Minister also noted that although a transferable development rights (TDR) policy was established in 2016 to address this gap, it did not produce the expected results.
A revised TDR policy introduced in 2021 has thus far only resulted in the allocation of 140 acres for road development. Criticizing the previous government’s strategy, Saini stated that the costs of land acquisition for the 24-metre roads were not considered when licenses were issued, leaving several colonies between sectors 58 and 115 without adequate access infrastructure.
“The government will now begin the process of land acquisition for the development of the pending 24-metre roads. The costs incurred for acquisition and development will be recovered from the respective builders,” he asserted. The lack of 24-metre roads has continued to be a significant issue, especially in the newer sectors of the city.
In October of the previous year, residents approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, requesting directives for the development of 24-metre and 30-metre internal roads. Residents expressed that the absence of these road links has obstructed seamless connectivity, caused delays in ambulance and fire services, and resulted in dust and safety concerns.
In certain communities, even fundamental services like water pipelines cannot be installed due to the absence of adequate internal roads. According to the Gurgaon-Manesar Master Plan 2031, government agencies were assigned the task of constructing 60-metre sector-dividing roads, while the responsibility for building 24-metre internal sector roads was delegated to private developers. Each developer is required to construct only the segment that falls within their licensed area.
This fragmented approach has led to disjointed development, with various builders completing sections at different intervals, while gaps remain where licenses were never granted or projects were halted, leaving numerous colonies reliant on revenue roads or unpaved paths. Residents welcomed the announcement, describing the acquisition plan as a long-awaited measure.
“The construction of 24-metre roads will not only facilitate easier living for millions of families but will also promote organized development of new sectors. Land that was previously ineligible for licensing can now be made available for residential projects, thereby generating revenue for the government.
This decision represents a win-win situation for both the public and the state,” stated Sunny Daultabad, convener of the Dwarka Expressway Gurugram Development Association. Nevertheless, residents asserted that they will closely monitor the implementation. “Our efforts will persist until actual construction commences on the ground,” remarked Sunil Sareen, co-convener of the citizens’ group.
