GHAZIABAD: Developed in the early 2000s, Raj Nagar Extension was sold to homebuyers as a rapidly transforming township that will have high-speed access to the capital via the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.
Today, those living in the area aren’t worried about inter-city connectivity. It’s the basics that they demand. From no water supply to bumpy roads, there’s a lot that needs to be developed here, residents say.
“A number of residential societies have come up in the area in the past few years. But this is an unplanned locality. There is no green belt or park here. Almost every society has an open parking system, which has damaged whatever green spaces there were. So, how will thousands of residents breathe fresh air when there is no greenery,” said Vikrant Sharma, who lives in Gaur Cascades in Raj Nagar Extension.
Residents say all societies rely on groundwater extraction for supply to houses. In June last year, the central groundwater authority (CGWA) had written to UP govt on taking immediate action against illegal groundwater extraction in the city, including projects in Raj Nagar Extension.
Asked about this, an official of the Ghaziabad groundwater department Srishti Jaiswal told TOI: “The problem here is that these builders have to get a letter from respective authorities, saying that there is no water supply or inadequate supply from the pipeline. Only after that can we give an NOC, allowing them to extract groundwater.”
According to officials, around 1 lakh families live in the area.
Another problem is that of roads. The condition is such that RWAs have occasionally filled up potholes and craters on their own.
“It is the duty of Ghaziabad Development Authority to maintain and repair the roads. But they aren’t. We recently filled up potholes in the Anandibai area. And it wasn’t the first time that residents have had to do that. Be it filling up potholes or cleaning the area…” said Sachin Tyagi, who lives in Ashiana society.
Roads that are in dire need of repairs include those near Ajnara City Centre T-point, Fortune Society, KW Srishti Society, Blue Moon society, Charms Society, Rajnagar Extension Police Chowki and Devika Skypers society.
Sanitation services, too, are lacking. Garbage isn’t picked up for days on end, and street vendors who operate illegally dump more of it on roadsides. Heaps of trash are often found lying near Jyoti Super Village Society, Gulmohar Garden Society, BYOB Bar & Restaurant, Rajnagar Residency Society, among other areas.
Raj Nagar Extension, built under the supervision of GDA, still finds itself under the care of the development authority, though the city has GMC for maintenance and civic services.
In 2022, GDA had proposed that certain services in Raj Nagar Extension – such as horticulture and garbage collection — should be handed over to the municipal corporation while it can retain responsibilities linked to water supply and sewer line network.
But this plan, also proposed to be implemented in Indirapuram, has not materialised. Officials said responsibilities can’t be handed over to GMC as some external parts of the township are yet to be developed.
“GDA is a developing body, so it cannot take care of our maintenance issues. But the handover has not been done, and because of that, GDA has to see all of it. Authority officials say they don’t have enough funds and staff to do all this,” said Tyagi.
“The handover has not been done, so we can’t carry out any maintenance duties. But we collect house tax from these residential areas as they fall in our jurisdiction. Without the handover, we can’t do anything,” a senior GMC official said.
On residents’ complaints, a GDA official said the authority has been collecting garbage and maintaining roads. “GMC can take over as soon as the area is transferred,” he added.
Residents say they will have to continue grappling with all the civic problems till then.
“Footpaths are encroached on by street vendors. Electricity poles are in bad shape. There is no community centre. No parks for children. And absolutely no facilities in this area,” said Deepanshu Mittal, a resident of Bravehearts society.
Dr Seema Sharma, a resident and an assistant professor of environment studies in Delhi University, said Raj Nagar Extension is one of the low-lying areas of the city.
“Rainwater harvesting can be done here. But every society uses groundwater. God knows, if in the future, will there be any water left to extract,” she said.
