2 years gone, HH Chowk flyover set for repairs, but only after rains

Gurgaon: More than two years after a depression first appeared on Hero Honda Chowk flyover and forced traffic restrictions on one of Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway’s busiest stretches, repairs are finally set to move.NHAI has said it is preparing to invite bids later this month to restore and strengthen the damaged structure, a long-delayed intervention for commuters who have been navigating bottlenecks and uncertainty since the lane was barricaded.The proposed work, estimated at Rs 22 crore, will cover repairs on both carriageways wherever needed. A specialised agency will be hired not only to restore the damaged portions but also to carry out a detailed technical assessment of the flyover to identify distressed sections and decide where strengthening or replacement is required.“We are preparing to float a tender for restoration of the damaged portions of the flyover. The agency will also conduct a thorough technical investigation to identify distressed sections and determine where strengthening or replacement is needed,” an NHAI official said.According to the official, the tender is likely to be floated in the next one or two weeks. Once awarded, the contractor will mobilise machinery and manpower, but work is expected to begin only after the monsoon because of heavy traffic and the need for a traffic management plan to minimise disruption.

The 1.4km flyover, built at a cost of Rs 197 crore and opened in July 2017, was sanctioned in Aug 2014 to ease congestion at Hero Honda Chowk, one of NH-8’s busiest junctions. But structural concerns surfaced soon after inauguration. In April 2018, a chunk of concrete fell from the flyover. In May 2019, a hole appeared on the same carriageway.After the 2019 incident, police registered an FIR under sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of BNS on a complaint by RTI activist Ramesh Kumar.NHAI officials and representatives of agencies linked to the construction were named. Samples were sent for laboratory testing and structural experts examined the flyover. The inquiry reportedly found substandard material had been used in parts of the project, after which an NHAI committee recommended strengthening measures.The flyover was shut for nearly five months from Oct 2019 for deck slab restoration, and again for six days in Sept 2022 for span load testing.Fresh trouble emerged in May 2024, when a nearly 20-metre section on the Gurgaon-Delhi carriageway developed a visible depression. NHAI barricaded the stretch and restricted movement on the damaged lane, and it has remained cordoned off since then. By Dec 2024, the damaged portion had worsened into a cavity with reinforcement bars exposed. In Jan, more concrete chipped off, leaving iron rods visible and a hole in the deck.NHAI then asked CSIR-CRRI to audit the flyover and underpass at the junction, both built by the same agency. The audit found the flyover stable overall, but said parts of the deck slab and bearings were weak and needed repairs. CRRI suggested measures such as grouting, strengthening and partial replacement of damaged sections, which were later reviewed by NHAI’s technical committee.