GURUGRAM: A feasibility study by GMDA, to assess reasons behind craters developing on the surface of the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) within a year and a half of its opening, has revealed that traffic load on the road, especially of trucks going towards Faridabad , has been much higher than estimated.According to officials, while the road has been developed to bear a load of around eight tonnes, it has been carrying around 34 tonnes daily. “While the load is almost four times, the impact of the load is 16 times, which is why the road surface has seen extensive damage,” said Jitender Mittal, chief engineer, GMDA.Interestingly, while the carriageway going from Vatika Chowk to Ghata is badly damaged, the condition of the reverse carriageway is relatively better. “Generally, trucks are loaded while going towards Faridabad; they are mostly empty on their way back. Hence, one side is relatively better off than the other,” said Mittal.The road, built by HSVP, was opened to traffic in July 2017. It started to crack after that year’s monsoon itself. Over the past 18 months, cracks have turned into potholes and one has to apply brakes every few metres due to these. Many people had raised concerns about SPR’s condition last year itself, following which GMDA carried out some patch repairs on the surface.Driving on the road had become extremely difficult. Commuters complain of increased risk of accidents, particularly during night. In the absence of regular and extensive lighting — they don’t work at some stretches — drivers find it difficult to spot potholes. While the patch repair work by GMDA had helped a bit, many problems remain.In the light of the feasibility study report, the authority is now mulling a project to strengthen SPR. A proposal in this regard may be tabled at the executive committee meeting scheduled next month, said GMDA sources. “We’re looking at solutions for the problems at hand, and strengthening is one of the options,” said Mittal.While the feasibility study has revealed many problems, it has also pointed out certain loopholes in the planning process. The project was one of HSVP’s biggest ever, and was supposed to divert heavy traffic to the city’s outskirts. Over 20,000 people have also moved into their new homes in newly delivered residential societies, spanning 11 sectors (68 to 75A) along the 16km SPR.Thousands of people are also using this road from Faridabad, Golf Course Road and other parts of the city to reach Manesar . Starting from Gurgaon-Faridabad road near Ghata-Kanarpur, the SPR intersects NH-8 before the Kherki Daula toll plaza at Badshapur Chowk on Sohna road.

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