Gurgaon: With uncertainty lingering over the design and modality of a proposed culvert crossing along NH-8, GMDA is now exploring alternative solutions to address chronic waterlogging at Narsingpur, one of the worst-affected stretches in the city during rains.The culvert was planned to channel rainwater from the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway towards the Badshapur drain, passing through the service road near Narsingpur and crossing NH-8. However, the plan has hit a roadblock as the NHAI declined to take up the culvert work, leaving the project in limbo ahead of the monsoon.“NHAI has declined to take up the culvert work. We are exploring alternative solutions, including drain construction on Jaipur-Delhi side and using the existing culvert on NH-8. We are now assessing the situation on the ground, including feasibility, levels and other technical requirements. A final decision will be taken once technical assessments are complete,” a senior GMDA official said.In Jan this year, NHAI rejected GMDA’s proposal for constructing a stormwater drain along with a culvert crossing on NH-8, citing design flaws and noncompliance with mandatory road safety norms. The authority also asked for revised designs and fresh cost estimates.The initial design, which proposed laying three piped culverts through excavation, was rejected due to concerns over traffic disruption and safety. Subsequently, GMDA revised the proposal to incorporate a box-pushing technique, which allows underground construction without affecting traffic above. However, it has failed to move forward.Parallelly, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) is planning a surface drain along the Jaipur-bound carriageway of the expressway at Narsingpur. In the first phase, a 1.2 km RCC drain will be built to channel rainwater towards the Badshapur drain. While HSIIDC is responsible for the drain, the now-stalled culvert was to allow water to cross the expressway — a missing link that continues to delay a comprehensive solution.TOI‘s repeated attempts to contact NHAI officials for comment went unanswered.The Narsingpur stretch of NH-8 has long been vulnerable to waterlogging, with even moderate rainfall leading to severe congestion and inconvenience for commuters. Temporary fixes — such as deploying pumps and laying pipelines — have offered only short-term relief.With monsoon weeks away, the absence of a clear plan has raised concerns over yet another season of flooding.GMDA is also executing a Rs 5 crore project to construct a permanent RCC drain to divert stormwater from Narsingpur to the Badshapur drain near Sector 37. While the project is officially slated for completion by Aug, officials said efforts are underway to finish the work before the onset of monsoon.
