Corporation plans to install more gates but old ones have no use

The gates are proposed to be installed on the entry/exit points on the V-5 roads in Sectors 15 and 21. The aim is to keep a tab on vehicles entering into the sector.

It was felt this would help prevent the increasing instances of theft. The estimates for the installation of gates in these two sectors have been approved.

Security gates are already present in some sectors in the city. At night all entry/exit points apart from one are closed and entry is restricted through one gate. However, these have not proven to be a success at all the places where these have been installed.

The ones installed at Manimajra are unmanned at present, therefore, serves no purpose. Officials of the Municipal Corporation inform that while the gates were installed by using MPLAD funds, residents later refused to collect money for maintaining these.

While the gates are installed by the Municipal Corporation, the responsibility of hiring guards to manage these lies with the resident welfare associations, which is not being done.

Opinions are also divided in Sector 21 where the gates are proposed to be installed. Area councillor Anju Beniwala says that the gates are not likely to serve any purpose.

“There is no need to install the gates and it would prove to be wastage of money. A large number of residents are opposed to it. In other sectors these have not proven to be useful. The system works better in societies where people are willing to pay. In sectors this becomes a problem,” she says. Another councillor feels that it is not a feasible proposal and would spoil the beauty of the entrances. 

While the residents of Sector 38 (W) where the gates are installed are in their favour with the system functioning well here.

An official of the Engineering Department informs that the work for installation of the gates would be started in the coming days and the estimates as well as the design have been approved.