Delhi PWD minister Parvesh Verma has ordered the recarpeting of Rohtak Road, repairs to damaged roads and footpaths, new lighting beneath Rani Jhansi Flyover and drain desilting at Zakhira after a multi-department inspection of civic conditions across central and west Delhi on Saturday.
The directions cover road safety, pedestrian movement, drainage, sanitation, street lighting and encroachment removal. Officials from the Public Works Department, Delhi Jal Board, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, district administrations and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi inspected several locations with the minister and were asked to address identified problems within fixed deadlines.
PWD will recarpet Rohtak Road after pending utility work by the Delhi Jal Board, BSES and Delhi Transco Limited is completed. The agencies have also been directed to coordinate their work to prevent roads from being repeatedly dug up after resurfacing. PWD will repair damaged road patches and broken footpaths along Rani Jhansi Road and Idgah Road within 15 days.
At the area beneath Rani Jhansi Flyover, PWD and MCD have been instructed to install new lights, conduct a cleanliness drive and remove encroachments within a week. The measures are intended to improve visibility, pedestrian movement and the use of public space below the flyover.
PWD has also been directed to desilt drains and clear choked outlets on New Rohtak Road and at Zakhira to address waterlogging. At Karampura Flyover, Patel Road and Shadipur, PWD and DMRC will repair potholes, restore road markings and signage, and remove construction debris near metro structures. MCD has been asked to clear roadside debris and improve sanitation along Shankar Road.
The inspection was conducted with officials from the participating departments travelling together on a single bus and stopping at locations to assess problems and assign responsibility. Verma said residents needed functioning roads, drains and footpaths rather than speeches about development. “I’ve asked my officials to come back to these same spots and show me the work done. Accountability isn’t a word for us, it’s a deadline,” he said.
The directions place responsibility for connected civic problems across several agencies, including road resurfacing, utility coordination, drainage, lighting, sanitation and work around metro structures. An official said a follow-up review of the directions would be held within a month.
