Over 5,000 illegal constructions in the Gurugram defence zone.
Over the past five years, more than 5,000 illegal structures have sprung up within the 900-meter restricted buffer zone surrounding the Indian Air Force’s ammunition depot in Gurugram. This highlights a massive violation of building regulations in one of the city’s most sensitive areas.
An internal report by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) reveals that illegal residential and commercial construction has surged despite restrictions and repeated court directives. The report indicates that the enforcement mechanism for regulations within the defense buffer zone has virtually stalled, even as authorities have intensified action against unauthorized construction in the city’s planned sectors.
According to the report, illegal paying-guest accommodations, cloud kitchens, offices, swimming pools, and other commercial establishments are operating in areas such as Sheetla Colony, Dharam Colony, Rajiv Nagar, and Carterpuri Road. Buildings ranging from five to seven stories have been constructed without approval, while developers have allegedly built unauthorized basements and converted open spaces into private parking areas.
This unchecked construction has also raised serious safety concerns. Extensions of balconies, staircases, and shops have narrowed internal roads, making it difficult for emergency vehicles to access many residential areas. Officials fear that in the event of a major fire, fire tenders would be unable to reach these congested neighborhoods, potentially endangering the lives of thousands of residents.
The issue has also drawn political attention. Gurugram MLA Mukesh Sharma stated that the solution lies in bringing these areas under a formal regulatory framework. Sharma said, “My efforts to regularize this area and resolve the issue regarding the 900-meter restriction imposed by the Ministry of Defence aim to bring these residential pockets under the ambit of clear building bylaws and planned municipal regulations.”
He added, “In the absence of a formal regulatory framework, thousands of local tax-paying residents are deprived of civic amenities, while land mafias exploit legal loopholes to erect haphazard and unauthorized multi-story buildings. Bringing the area under clear regulations is the only sustainable way to curb this rampant construction and restore urban order.”
The municipal body has initiated action; recently, it sealed an illegal swimming pool operating within the restricted zone. MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya stated that the corporation would further intensify enforcement measures. “To ensure strict compliance with the rules, we have transferred the concerned Junior Engineer for the area and assigned the responsibility to another official. Large-scale, systematic enforcement action will soon be launched across the entire 900-meter zone.”
