Residents of Gurugram, one of Haryana’s fastest-growing urban centers, were recently greeted with the promising news of a new metro corridor that aims to connect Old Gurugram to various key locations across the city. However, the excitement surrounding the upcoming metro project has been tempered by significant delays stemming from land acquisition issues. These complications have posed a serious challenge to the progress of the first phase of the Gurugram Metro, and authorities are now actively working to resolve them.

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First Phase: 14 Stations and ₹1,286 Crore Investment

The first phase of the Old Gurugram Metro project will include the construction of 14 metro stations across strategically important points in the city. This phase is critical in laying the foundation for future metro expansions, with an estimated budget of ₹1,286 crore. The Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL), the executing agency for the project, has already issued tenders, which are scheduled to be opened on May 15.

The goal is to ease traffic congestion, provide environmentally friendly transport, and boost connectivity for lakhs of daily commuters. But while the plan is ambitious and much needed, practical issues—particularly related to land acquisition—are delaying the start of construction.

Land Requirements and the HSVP Factor

To build the metro stations, GMRL requires land across different city sectors, including space for entry and exit points, pillars, columns, and other structural components. GMRL has formally requested land from the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), the state’s urban development authority.

What makes GMRL’s request more sustainable and citizen-friendly is its commitment to using public spaces such as green belts and road dividers for station infrastructure. This minimizes the need to acquire private property, which can be both time-consuming and controversial. However, even the process of securing public land has not been smooth.

Land Needed for 10 Key Stations

Out of the 14 stations planned, 10 stations require a combined land parcel of approximately 5,805 square meters just for their entry and exit points. Here’s a breakdown of how much land is needed for each of these 10 stations:

In addition to these station-specific needs, land is also required in Sector 37 and Gaon Basai for supporting metro pillars and columns.

Partial Land Availability

Fortunately, GMRL already possesses land at several station sites including Cyber Park, Sector 47, Sector 48, and Sector 72A. These stations are not expected to face any delays as construction can begin as soon as technical clearances are granted. These pockets of ready land offer a silver lining in an otherwise complicated land acquisition process.

Sector 34 Casting Yard

Another major component of the metro construction plan is the establishment of a casting yard—a central facility where metro components like beams and pillars will be fabricated before installation. GMRL has requested 10 hectares of land from HSVP in Sector 34 to build this yard. So far, 5 hectares have been handed over, while approval for the remaining 5 hectares is still pending.

The completion and availability of this casting yard is crucial for ensuring timely progress on the metro line, as many structural elements are prefabricated off-site and then transported for assembly.

What’s Next?

The delay in land transfer has prompted senior officials from GMRL and HSVP to hold a series of high-level meetings aimed at resolving the issue quickly. The state government is also reportedly monitoring the situation closely, recognizing the importance of the project for the region’s economic and urban development.

Once the remaining land is cleared and handed over, construction can begin on multiple fronts, potentially fast-tracking the metro rollout. If all approvals come through smoothly, the city could see significant progress in metro construction within the next few months.

A Vision for a Smarter, More Connected Gurugram

The Gurugram metro expansion is a critical step in making the city smarter, greener, and more commuter-friendly. With lakhs of residents depending on overburdened roads, the metro promises a transformative shift in how people move across the city.

While the current land hurdles are significant, authorities are hopeful they can be resolved in time. If successful, the project will not only bring convenience to commuters but also boost real estate, improve air quality, and contribute to overall urban development in the region.