Delhi's Drainage Overhaul: A 30-Year Vision

The Delhi government has embarked on an ambitious plan to remodel 300 kilometers of its drainage network in the coming financial year. This initiative is the first phase of a new Drainage Master Plan, designed to meet the city's drainage needs for the next three decades, officials announced on Tuesday.

The Public Works Department (PWD) unveiled this long-awaited plan last September and has already set in motion infrastructure improvements to address waterlogging and flood-related accidents. According to the plan, within the next five years, the city aims to reduce waterlogging episodes by half and curb flood-related accidents by 30%, with an estimated budget of Rs 57,362 crore.

Tenders for crucial areas like Azadpur, Mehrauli-Badarpur road, Nangloi, and Khanjawala have already been floated, with PWD's initial efforts targeting drainage bottlenecks in waterlogged hotspots. This strategy is not only meant to systematize the drainage system but also eradicate longstanding infrastructure gaps across Delhi.