Hundreds of people holding flats in residential projects along the much-delayed Dwarka Expressway formed a “Human Chain of Hope” on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway on Saturday to raise their concerns over the delay in completion of the road and seeking removal of the Kherki Daula toll plaza.
Holding the demonstration under the aegis of DXP Welfare Association, which represents homebuyers and residents of over 45 projects across Dwarka Expressway from Sector 76-115, the protesters, including women and children, gathered at Sector 84 here and then drove towards the toll plaza in the form of a convoy of around a hundred vehicles. Carrying placards, urging the government to complete the Expressway and shift the toll plaza, the demonstrators then formed a human chain and raised slogans.
Infrastructure lacking
Explaining the sufferings of the people, Yashesh Yadav, president, DXP Welfare Association, said: “The delay in completion of Dwarka Expressway has severely impacted the life of homebuyers. The residents are forced to live in pathetic conditions on account of lack of basic infrastructure, which ultimately is dependent on Dwarka Expressway, and now we are losing hope due to ignorance of the authorities concerned.”
The demonstrators complained that they were suffering on account of delay of more than eight years in the completion of the Expressway and removal of Kherki Daula toll.
Basic infrastructure like water, electricity, sewage system and roads in the sectors along the Dwarka Expressway is in poor state and missing at many places. The protesters alleged that the government had missed at least 10 deadlines to complete Dwarka Expressway. Also, the problem of traffic jams, due to Khekri Dhaula toll was increasing and impacting the life of commuters and residents in sectors along the Expressway.
‘No logic’
Pradip Rahi, general-secretary, DXP Welfare Association, said: “There is no logic behind having a toll within the city limits cutting it into two parts. We pay ₹3,000 every month as toll charges to reach our homes from workplace within the same city and suffer due to huge traffic chaos. Also, the Dwarka Expressway cannot be completed till the time the Kherki Daula toll is not shifted. Through the silent and peaceful protest we want to give a message to the central and the State governments that they should not ignore the issues of Kherki Daula toll and Dwarka Expressway.”
Social media expert and activist Prakhar Sahay, working to raise awareness on twin issues, said, “We have received support from more than 25,000 people in our online campaign. We expect the government to remove any kind of toll inside Gurugram city. There is lack of required seriousness and accountability in the government resulting in paramount delay in resolution. More than two lakh tweets using #DwarkaExpressway and #KherkiDaulaToll has been tweeted to the government to highlight our issues however there is no action on ground.”
