New Delhi: Public Works Department (PWD) plans to undertake drainage repair work on five main roads in south Delhi — CV Raman Marg, Sukhdev Vihar Road, Aurobindo Marg, Ashram underpass and MP Road. According to officials, although preparations have started, the work is likely to commence after GRAP restrictions are lifted.
“The work will involve remodelling and, wherever possible, widening the roadside drain. New, wider pipes will be fitted, as the old ones have faced deterioration over time. The interconnect points of the drain with larger drains will also be examined, and if required, changes will be made,” said a PWD official.
This year, roads across the city were in poor condition because of faulty drains, as water accumulation damaged the upper layer. PWD is trying to address these issues by carrying out road resurfacing work. The stretches are notorious for getting waterlogged every monsoon, causing inconvenience to commuters. During the rainy season, waste from the temporary drains built nearby clogs the drains along these roads, forcing the department to deploy temporary pumps.
The Ashram underpass, which opened to the public two years ago in 2022, will also have its drainage system repaired. Several underpasses in the city are prone to waterlogging. During the monsoon, PWD had come out with a standard operating procedure for officials on how to respond to a flooded underpass.
MP Road, which starts near Okhla Road, connects to Mathura Road, CV Raman Marg and Sukhdev Vihar area, passing under the Modi Mill flyover. The road is also the main link connecting the Kalkaji flyover, and is used by commuters heading from Noida to Kalkaji and other south Delhi areas.
At Aurobindo Marg, the drain has been damaged by thieves at some locations, with items like pipes and drain covers being stolen. The repair work will cover these aspects.
Along with repairs, small-scale cleaning and beautification work will also be done by PWD on these roads, including footpaths along the drainage network. Several public infrastructure projects underway are likely to face delays because of the construction ban under GRAP.
