The Delhi government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Atishi, has embarked on a mission to make the city’s roads pothole-free by Diwali. On Monday morning, Delhi cabinet ministers, along with Atishi, hit the ground to inspect and identify damaged roads across the national capital, particularly in the southern and southeastern regions, to ensure repairs are completed by the end of October. This initiative aims to provide smoother travel experiences for Delhiites in time for the festive season.
On-Site Road Inspections Across Delhi
Atishi, accompanied by engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), conducted inspections in multiple areas, including NSIC Okhla, Modi Mill flyover, Chirag Dilli, Tughlakabad, Mathura Road, Ashram Chowk, and its underpass. After personally reviewing these roads, she acknowledged their dilapidated conditions and expressed concerns about the difficulties faced by residents due to the numerous potholes.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Atishi stated, “People are experiencing daily problems due to the potholes on these roads.” She directed PWD officials to commence road repairs immediately, setting a tight timeline to achieve a pothole-free city by Diwali. “Under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal, it is our mission to ensure that all roads in Delhi are repaired and pothole-free by Diwali,” she added.
City-Wide Inspections Led by Delhi Ministers
The mission to restore Delhi’s roads has been a collaborative effort involving several cabinet ministers and officials. Saurabh Bharadwaj, a key minister in the Delhi cabinet, and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia took charge of inspecting roads in East Delhi. Sisodia, in a post on X, criticized the BJP for allegedly halting the progress made by the AAP government, claiming that false legal cases against him and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had led to a slowdown in public works, including road repairs.
“The roads’ conditions have worsened because of the BJP’s actions, where they targeted the AAP government with baseless cases and stalled important work for Delhi’s people,” Sisodia stated.
In addition, other ministers took responsibility for specific regions of the city. Gopal Rai inspected roads in northeast Delhi, while Kailash Gahlot focused on west and southwest Delhi. Minister Imran Hussain visited New Delhi and central Delhi, while Mukesh Ahlawat inspected roads in north and northwest Delhi. The coordinated city-wide inspections underline the Delhi government’s commitment to addressing road conditions comprehensively.
Repair Work to Start Immediately, Completion Expected by End of October
On Sunday, Chief Minister Atishi held a meeting to review the overall state of Delhi’s roads. During the meeting, she emphasized that all cabinet ministers would dedicate a full week to inspecting roads in their designated areas. These inspections aim to identify roads in critical need of repair and prioritize them for immediate restoration. After the inspections, repair work is scheduled to begin on a “war footing,” with the goal of completing all necessary repairs by the end of October.
Speaking about the city’s upcoming road restoration, Atishi said, “The goal is to ensure that by Diwali, the citizens of Delhi will experience pothole-free roads, making travel within the city smoother and safer.”
Challenges in Road Maintenance and Accountability
Chief Minister Atishi’s initiative to make Delhi’s roads pothole-free comes at a crucial time. As the city prepares for Diwali, the festival of lights, it sees an uptick in travel, with people visiting family and engaging in festivities. Poor road conditions, marked by deep potholes and uneven surfaces, have been a cause of concern for both residents and authorities. These damaged roads lead to traffic congestion, vehicle damage, and, in some cases, accidents.
The responsibility of road maintenance has been a point of contention between various government agencies. The PWD, which manages most of Delhi’s roads, has often been criticized for delays in repair work. However, the Delhi government under the AAP administration has vowed to fast-track these processes, especially in light of the upcoming Diwali deadline.
The condition of Delhi’s roads has also been exacerbated by recent rains, which led to further deterioration in several areas. Potholes have become larger and more hazardous, making swift action a necessity.
The Way Forward: Ensuring Long-Term Solutions
While the immediate focus is on fixing potholes before Diwali, there is also a growing conversation about ensuring the long-term durability of Delhi’s roads. Short-term patchwork repairs, while effective in the short run, may not address the core issue of road degradation due to weather, traffic, and poor drainage systems.
Moving forward, experts suggest that a more sustainable approach to road maintenance should involve modern technology and materials that can withstand heavy rainfall and high traffic volumes. The Delhi government’s current initiative, if executed successfully, will serve as a positive step towards addressing these issues and improving the overall infrastructure of the city.
Delhi’s government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Atishi, has launched a city-wide effort to repair potholes and improve the condition of the city’s roads by Diwali. With cabinet ministers conducting inspections across different regions and repair work set to begin immediately, the initiative aims to provide smoother and safer travel experiences for the citizens of Delhi. As the deadline approaches, residents can hope for better roads and a more pleasant commute in time for the festive season.