Sustainable Projects
From reviving ancient water channels in the Aravallis to widening footpaths on the city’s busiest roads — these are the on-ground restoration and infrastructure projects Gurgaon First has championed alongside citizens, RWAs and municipal partners.
Acres of Aravalli restored across the watershed project
Centuries-old bundhs documented and revived
Widened footpath along the transformed Janpath Road
Restoring Gurugram, One Project at a Time
Gurugram’s rapid growth has come at a cost to its natural water channels, its heritage infrastructure and its walkability. These three projects show what’s possible when citizens, RWAs, urban planners and municipal authorities work together on practical, on-the-ground restoration — not just policy papers.
Sikanderpur Watershed & Forest Trail
The Sikanderpur watershed restoration works to revive the natural drainage channels of the Aravalli foothills, allowing monsoon run-off to recharge groundwater instead of washing away as surface flood. Gurgaon First has been an active advocacy partner — documenting the site, mobilising citizen and corporate volunteers, and pushing for the systematic recharge zones the city urgently needs.
A dedicated forest trail has also been developed alongside the watershed, giving residents safe, marked access to the Aravalli hillside while keeping footfall away from the most ecologically sensitive recharge areas.
Location
Sikanderpur, Aravalli foothills
Partners
Citizen volunteers, corporate CSR teams, GMDA
Outcome
Measurable groundwater recovery in monitored wells, Phase 1
Wazirabad–Chakkarpur Bundh Restoration
The Wazirabad–Chakkarpur bundh is a centuries-old embankment on the edge of Gurugram — a piece of indigenous water-harvesting engineering built for exactly the semi-arid conditions the Aravalli region faces today. Gurgaon First has documented the structure, raised awareness of its ecological value, and advocated for its protection from encroachment and for formal restoration support from the Haryana government.
Restoring traditional structures like this is both more ecologically sound and far more cost-effective than building new water infrastructure from scratch.
Location
Wazirabad–Chakkarpur, southern Gurugram
Heritage
Traditional Aravalli-region water harvesting structure
Focus
Protection from encroachment, formal restoration advocacy
Sanath Road Transformation
Gurgaon First was part of the citizen coalition that advocated for redesigning Janpath Road in Sector 29 — turning a vehicle-dominated stretch into a genuinely pedestrian-friendly streetscape, with wider footpaths, better lighting and tree cover. It’s a model of exactly the kind of citizen-government collaboration Gurgaon First champions: residents identifying a problem, advocating with evidence, and working with municipal authorities on an implemented solution.
Location
Janpath Road, Sector 29, Gurugram
Footpath Width
Increased from 0.8m to 2.5m along the primary stretch
Greening
23 trees planted, energy-efficient LED lighting installed
Help Us Take On the Next Project
Every restoration project starts with citizens who noticed a problem and refused to look away. Volunteer your time, or support GurgaonFirst’s sustainability programmes directly.