The upper stretch of the Dwarka Expressway connecting sectors 99 to 115 of Gurugram was inaugurated in March, but months later, its street lights are still not working. The unlit stretch has become a hotspot for accidents and anti-social gatherings, residents said, increasing safety concerns for women and children.

The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), which constructed this road at a cost exceeding ₹50 crore, said hi-tech street lights would be installed on this stretch, but the timeline for doing so has not been decided. Residents allege that the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) are engaged in a blame game with both agencies failing to take responsibility and resolve the issue. HSVP said it would soon inspect the road and resolve the issue. The DHBVN did not respond to requests for comment.

Dinesh Kumar Malik, a resident of Habitat Society in Sector 99A, reported that more than 750 families in this area depend on this road daily and are vulnerable to accidents at night. “The lack of lighting makes traveling on this road dangerous,” Malik said.

“Non-functional street lights pose a major safety risk, increasing the risk of accidents and safety incidents, particularly at night. We have complained several times, but the problem persists,” said Harish Barsiwal, a resident of ROF Aalayas in Sector 102.

“We have constantly contacted HSVP officials to resolve the issue, but nothing has changed. We don’t feel safe on this road at night. The failure of the authorities to repair these street lights puts our safety at risk every day,” said Praveen Thakur, another resident of the Habitat Society.

Residents said the presence of several liquor outlets along the Dwarka Expressway has turned the road into a popular spot for night gatherings with incidents of rash driving becoming more and more frequent. “The lack of adequate street lighting is a source of problems, especially with the large number of liquor stores in the area. Visibility should have been a priority while planning this road,” said Ranjan Jain, a resident of Chintels Serenity in Sector 109.

GMDA Chief Engineer Arun Dhankar said the agency is currently installing smart and connected street lights in Sectors 68 to 80, which will be linked to the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) for better management . Although Dhankar confirmed that these high-tech lights were on the way, no specific timeline was provided for the implementation of similar solutions along the Dwarka Expressway.

HSVP officials, responding to residents’ complaints, said they would inspect the site to assess the problem. But residents remain skeptical, and many fear that until clear responsibilities are established, the problem of nonfunctional streetlights will go unaddressed, compromising their safety and that of commuters.