GMDA clears removal of two FOBs in metro corridor; GMRL to fund replacements
The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has permitted Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) to dismantle two foot overbridges (FOBs) that fall within the alignment of the ongoing Gurugram metro corridor, officials said. The authority has stipulated that GMRL will bear all costs of dismantling and must construct two replacement FOBs at locations approved by GMDA to ensure uninterrupted pedestrian access.
The two FOBs are located near Alpine Public School, Sector 9, and Greenwood Public School, Sector 10 close to Basai Pond. They fall on the stretch between Umang Bhardwaj Chowk and the Basai Flyover, where a metro station is planned as part of the corridor, which GMRL is executing as a 30 km loop from Millennium City Centre to Cyber Hub, officials said.
“In lieu of the existing FOBs proposed to be dismantled, GMRL shall construct and commission 02 new foot overbridges along the same metro corridor at locations approved by GMDA, at its own cost and expense, to ensure uninterrupted pedestrian connectivity and safety.”
The GMDA communique containing this directive is dated 12 August, according to the official. The two FOBs were originally erected in 2023 as part of a ₹114-crore project that included road widening between Umang Bhardwaj Chowk and Dwarka Motorway, a flyover and a railway bridge over the Delhi–Rewari line. Since then, the structures have served pedestrians from Sectors 37C, 37D, 9, 9A and 10, providing access near schools, the Basai Pond and the Chowk.
A GMDA official said the dismantled material will be taken over, stored and transported by the metro corporation without any financial implication on the metro authority. In June, GMRL had written to GMDA asserting that the FOBs were "infringing" on the metro alignment and requested their early removal to proceed with construction activities.
- FOB locations: Near Alpine Public School (Sector 9); near Greenwood Public School (Sector 10, Basai Pond).
- Affected residents: Pedestrians from Sectors 37C, 37D, 9, 9A and 10 routinely used these FOBs.
- Project context: FOBs were part of a 2023 ₹114-crore road and bridge package; removal is to accommodate the 30 km Gurugram metro loop.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| FOBs to be dismantled | 2 (Sector 9 & Sector 10) |
| Original project cost (2023) | ₹114 crore |
| Metro project | 30 km Gurugram loop: Millennium City Centre to Cyber Hub |
GMDA's direction requires GMRL to not only dismantle the existing structures but also to construct and commission two replacement FOBs along the same corridor at locations that will be approved by the authority. The official emphasised that the step aims to safeguard pedestrian connectivity and safety while allowing the metro works to progress.
Local residents who used the FOBs for school and neighbourhood access are likely to face short-term disruption during dismantling and reconstruction. The GMDA did not provide a timeline for the removal or completion of replacement structures in its communique. GMRL had flagged the issue in its June communication, saying the FOBs were encroaching on the metro alignment and sought early action.
GMRL is executing the metro project in phases. Phase one has been described as running from Millennium City Centre to Sector 9, with a separate spur to the Dwarka Expressway. Officials did not specify whether these particular works would affect the schedule of phase-wise openings, only that alignment-related obstructions needed removal for safe construction.
The removal directive and the requirement that replacements be built at GMRL's expense reflect standard practice when existing road or pedestrian infrastructure clashes with new transit alignments; however, residents and commuters will be watching for firm dates and temporary pedestrian arrangements from the authorities. GMDA and GMRL contacts cited in the communique were not quoted further on interim contingency measures for daily users of the FOBs.
