Rethink Mathura Road U-turn, PWD told

In its plea filed through advocate Pawanjit S Bindra, residents had contended that the proposal would make the Sunder Nagar main road narrow and deprive pedestrians of space.

The Delhi high court has directed the public works department (PWD) to, within four weeks, reconsider its plan to construct two underground U-turns on Mathura Road, near Supreme Nursery, after Sunder Nagar residents moved court.

Residents alleged construction of the U-turns would lead to traffic problems in the area.

The Sunder Nagar Association, a group of the residents of the neighbourhood, had moved the court on Wednesday, contending that construction would lead to flooding and traffic snarls on the road where the DPS, Mathura Road, is also located.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru said that the issues raised in the representation were not considered and hence should be taken afresh. “…It is accordingly directed that the petitioner’s representation be considered afresh by the PWD, within four weeks. It is also directed that the petitioner would also be afforded a hearing before a decision is taken,” the court said, disposing of the plea.

In its plea filed through advocate Pawanjit S Bindra, residents had contended that the proposal would make the Sunder Nagar main road narrow and deprive pedestrians of space.

“The scheme proposes to remove the boundary wall between Sunder Nagar and Mathura Road and construct a wall on the footpath, making the Sunder Nagar main road very narrow and depriving the pedestrians from using the same,” the plea read.

Residents had also alleged that the construction of the underpasses would block access to houses located on the main road, facing the Mathura Road.

On Wednesday, the counsel for the petitioner told the court that the narrowing of the main road for the proposed scheme would lead to a traffic lockdown and blockage of the entire road, even if one heavy vehicle breaks down.

He also submitted that the construction would lower the drainage level and lead to waterlogging during monsoon. Water from the low-lying Mathura Road will flow directly into the colony, flooding residences at the ground level, he contended.

“Since the area is close to the Yamuna, the shape of the main road is such that the water flow is towards the colony. With the proposed scheme, the low-lying area will be affected such that the underpass will be flooded with water and the flow will be directed towards the colony,” the plea read.

“It will directly affect residents living in the area thereby, flooding their homes,” the plea stated, adding that they had also given a representation to the chief project manager of the central PWD on October 1, 2018, with an alternative.

However, the representation was rejected in an order dated November 14, 2018.

Aggrieved by this, they had moved the court.