Delhi Clears 92 Percent of PWD Drains as Monsoon Arrives, 170km Still Unfinished
The Delhi government has completed 92.06 percent of its desilting work on Public Works Department (PWD) stormwater drains across the capital, including chronic waterlogging hotspots like Minto Bridge and ITO, leaving nearly 170 km of the network unfinished as the monsoon arrived on Thursday.
According to official figures released on Friday, the PWD cleared 1,955.08 km of its 2,123.78 km stormwater drain network. Despite the remaining unfinished sections, Roads and Water Minister Parvesh Verma stated that a combination of desilting, increased pumping capacity, and permanent engineering interventions would minimize waterlogging.
The desilting progress varies by region. The east zone led with 95.6 percent of its work completed, followed by the south zone at 94.03 percent. The north zone lagged furthest behind, having completed 88.5 percent of its target. In total, the department removed 3.1 million metric tonnes of silt from 77 drains, including the Najafgarh drain, 21 major drains, and 55 minor drains.
To combat flooding at notorious hotspots, the government has implemented localized engineering measures. At Minto Bridge, the PWD constructed an additional drainage connection and automated all 15 permanent pumps, which have capacities ranging from 25 HP to 75 HP.
At the low-lying ITO junction, the department installed 14 permanent pumps ranging from 7.5 HP to 160 HP, supported by six power take-off (PTO) pumps and a 15-member operational team.
Other key areas receiving interventions include the Zakhira underpass, where a permanent drainage project is over 90 percent complete, and Pul Prahladpur, which now features an automated pump house with a 7.5 lakh-litre underground sump. At Azadpur underpass, 12 permanent pumps have been set up, while Loni roundabout has five automated pumps.
To coordinate emergency responses, the PWD has established a 24x7 central control room at its headquarters linked to the 1908 helpline, deployed 200 maintenance vans, and appointed nodal officers for 448 waterlogging points.
