Under fire for the poor state of colony and internal roads, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has now charted a detailed, two-year roadmap for their revival. The civic body has presented a phased redevelopment plan to the central government, specifically targeting roads narrower than 18 metres.
A Massive Redevelopment Blueprint to Tackle Pollution
As per a report focused on dust and air pollution reduction initiatives, MCD has outlined the extensive stretches of road needing urgent work. The scale of the problem is significant: out of Delhi's total internal road network of 6,127.78 kilometres, a staggering 1,503 km requires recarpeting. This assessment aligns with the guidelines set by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
The corporation has clarified that turning this plan into reality is contingent upon securing financial approvals. The execution will depend on the release of funds under various schemes run by the Delhi state government.
Phased Execution and Technical Details
The proposed overhaul, estimated to cost approximately Rs 2,000 crore, is scheduled to be carried out over 2026 and 2027. The objective is clear: to substantially mitigate dust pollution originating from broken road surfaces.
The plan divides the work into two main phases. In 2026, the agency aims to tackle nearly 1,000 kilometres of roads. This year's work is further broken down quarterly: 300 km between January-March, another 300 km in the second quarter, 150 km from July to September, and the remaining 250 km in the last quarter. The balance of 503 km is slated for completion in 2027.
MCD stated that the project will involve end-to-end improvement, strengthening, and reconstruction. It will also include developing drainage systems in urban and rural villages under schemes sanctioned by the Government of NCT of Delhi. The plan also encompasses roads in unauthorised regularised colonies.
Technically, improvements on bituminous roads will be achieved through dense carpeting and relaying using ready-mix concrete, ensuring longer durability.
Ground Reality: Residents' Persistent Struggle
This plan comes against a backdrop of severe public inconvenience and safety hazards. A lack of funds has prevented any dense carpeting work, leaving residents to navigate potholed and uneven roads daily.
Recent reports from various neighbourhoods highlight the crisis. In Govindpuri, the complete wearing away of the bitumen layer has made two-wheeler travel particularly unsafe. Locals complain that temporary fixes by MCD, like filling trenches with debris, have only aggravated the situation. Similar scenes plague other areas like H-Block in Chittaranjan Park, where the top layer has vanished over multiple stretches, and blocks in Greater Kailash-II where broken roads are a common sight.
To finance this ambitious plan, the civic body has applied for funds under multiple state government schemes, including the Chief Minister's Development Fund, the Delhi Village Development Board, and the MLA Local Area Development Scheme. The success of the two-year roadmap now hinges on these financial approvals.
