Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired a high-level meeting on Friday, primarily focused on detailed discussions regarding waterlogging, traffic problems, dark spots and drainage cleaning.
Before the meeting, the Chief Minister accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma conducted on site inspections of key waterlogging-prone locations in the national Capital, including the Minto Bridge, ITO and WHO Ring Road to take stock of the preparations for monsoon.
During the inspection the Chief Minister was not satisfied with the progress of the desilting work of the drain near Tilak Bridge and all concerned officials were instructed to take immediate and effective action to address the issue. These areas are among the top 10 waterlogging hotspots for the past several years.
After the inspection, the chief minister also held a meeting with all departments concerned, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Metro, Traffic police, Urban Development Department, Public Works Department, Flood Irrigation Control Department, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on waterlogging, traffic jams and dark spots and directed all to complete the work as per set timelines, The meeting primarily focused on detailed discussions regarding waterlogging, traffic problems, dark spots, and drainage cleaning. As per traffic police, 194 waterlogging-prone areas have been identified in Delhi, falling under various departments including PWD, NHAI, DMRC, DDA, MCD, NDMC, and DCB.
Short-term works have already been completed in 129 of these 194 identified areas, and instructions have been issued to complete work in the remaining areas as expeditiously as possible. At the meeting, she directed concerned departments to appoint nodal officers at every waterlogging point and made it clear that any occurrence of waterlogging will hold the responsible officer accountable. Directives have been issued to promptly complete work at the identified 233 traffic congestion points to ensure smooth traffic movement in the capital. An Integrated Control Room shall be established for better coordination and monitoring of all these activities, enabling all concerned departments to work in mutual coordination.
Furthermore, MCD and PWD have been instructed to conduct special campaigns for cleaning Ring Road and other roads. All unauthorized banners and posters on government property are to be removed, and violators will face strict action under the Property Defacement Act.
Following the meeting, CM Gupta reported that today’s meeting extensively discussed critical issues such as Delhi’s waterlogging, traffic problems, dark spots, and drainage cleaning.
Additionally, officials of all concerned departments have been informed that the concerned official shall be held accountable if waterlogging problems occur during the monsoon. Orders have also been issued to focus particular attention on locations where waterlogging problems are more prevalent, and nodal officers shall be appointed in all waterlogging-affected areas, for which a list shall be prepared.
PWD and NHAI departments have been directed to conduct joint inspections of waterlogging-affected areas and ensure timely solutions. Additionally, PWD has been instructed to upload photographs after cleaning the drains. Reports from all concerned departments shall undergo third-party audits to ensure work quality and transparency. Moreover, the Government will organise a separate meeting to address waterlogging areas under NDMC administration.
During the meeting, emphasis was placed on improving traffic management systems to resolve traffic problems. Currently, approximately 233 traffic congestion points have been identified in Delhi, where instructions have been issued to complete improvement works as expeditiously as possible. Delhi Traffic Police has identified approximately 4,780 dark spots across the city. Of the approximately 3,000 dark spots that come under the PWD department, streetlight repairs have been completed at 1,989 locations. The Chief Minister has issued directives for immediate corrective action at all remaining identified dark spots.
After the Minto Bridge inspection, the Chief Minister pointed out that this was the very spot where buses used to get submerged in past years. “Last year, even the pump got submerged, and the operator could not access it,” she recalled. “Automatic pumps have been deployed here that will flush out water during heavy rain and a 2.5-kilometre-long pipeline has been laid to carry the accumulated water out. Operators will also be on round-the-clock duty” the Chief Minister said after inspecting Minto Bridge.Vulnerable spots have been identified and corrective measures are being taken. The Delhi government will take every step in a time-bound manner to ensure there is no waterlogging this year, she told reporters.
The Chief Minister stated that this inspection was held to review preparedness ahead of the upcoming monsoon season, aiming to relieve Delhi citizens from the inconvenience caused by heavy rains. Officials from all concerned departments including Public Works Department, Urban Development Department, Irrigation and Flood Control, Delhi Jal Board, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi were present on this occasion.
She added that previous governments failed to pay serious attention to the city’s major drains, nor did they take concrete steps for timely desilting and maintenance. The current Government is working with full commitment to make Delhi flood-free and well-managed.
She informed that Cabinet Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh is continuously monitoring all water-logged areas in Delhi. The Government is committed to ensuring proper functioning of every pump and prompt resolution of technical issues.
During the visit CM Gupta emphasised that waterlogging will no longer be accepted as a norm in Delhi.
The Chief Minister has instructed all concerned departments to ensure timely resolution at all waterlogging points to provide Delhi residents relief from waterlogging and traffic congestion this season.
“Last year, 194 waterlogging locations were identified across the city by traffic police. Most of these are on PWD roads. At these points, we are taking several measures such as desilting of drains, installation of more pumps, and deploying pump operators where required,” Verma said.
