How Gurgaon’s boom is stretching its water, power and transport systems

Gurgaon, an increasingly prosperous city, is grappling with environmental and infrastructure challenges due to its rapid growth. A new sustainability report highlights the city's struggles with air quality, water supply, power infrastructure, and transport systems. Among the five sub-districts of Gurgaon, four have earned the highest national rating for night-time economic activity, but their soil moisture ratings range from 'B' to 'BBB'.

This indicates that while these areas are bustling with commercial developments, they face water scarcity issues.

The city's economic expansion has resulted in longer commutes, with an average of 7.2 kilometers per day, primarily driven by private vehicle usage. Gurgaon now has 323 cars per 1,000 residents, and over 50,000 vehicles are added annually. Despite 33% of trips being made on foot, only 28% of roads have footpaths, indicating inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. Groundwater levels have dropped dramatically, with the water table receding by 1.5 to 2 meters per year due to unchecked groundwater extraction.

The city's water supply is inadequate, consuming 638 million liters per day against a canal-based supply of 570 million liters. This demand is projected to reach 1,481 million liters by 2041, leading to a shortfall of 468 million liters daily. Unchecked groundwater extraction has further depleted the water table, which has reached nearly 39 meters below ground level. Many water bodies in the district are considered irrecoverable or heavily polluted.

The city's rapid growth has also led to a decrease in green cover from 10.8% in 2011 to 6.7% in 2023. Meanwhile, property prices have surged to an average of Rs 18,967 per square foot, making housing unaffordable for the working-class population. Over 40% of Gurgaon's population resides in congested urban villages, exacerbating overcrowding and strain on civic infrastructure.