New Delhi: Stretches spanning 3,298km — over 21% of the national capital’s network — need repairs or resurfacing, according to the latest Road Redevelopment Action Plan submitted to CM Rekha Gupta by various agencies during a review meeting on air pollution last month.The project is estimated to cost Rs 7,207 crore and will be taken up in phases.The overall road length in Delhi is 15,598km — almost 10,099km in authorised colonies and 1,000km in unauthorised colonies. In authorised colonies, 2,298km requires redevelopment while in unauthorised colonies, 1,000km needs overhaul, as per the proposal.In absolute terms, the maximum length of roads identified for redevelopment comes under Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Of its 6,127.8km network, the largest under any single agency, 1,202km, or 19.6%, has been proposed for redevelopment.MCD maintains most internal colony roads and market stretches, so the wear and tear directly impacts residents. Damaged surfaces, potholes and uneven stretches often lead to traffic congestion, vehicle breakdowns and increased commuting time. In densely populated neighbourhoods, deteriorating roads also affect pedestrian safety and emergency vehicle access.Public Works Department (PWD), which maintains many arterial and major roads, has 788km out of 1,404km — over 50% — marked for redevelopment.A senior govt official said while some projects were delayed due to GRAP restrictions and extreme weather conditions, work now gathered pace. “Construction activities were temporarily halted during severe pollution stages and peak temperature periods. However, most of the projects that were on hold have now resumed,” he added.PWD has completed over 150km of road redevelopment this year, with work on nearly 400km in progress. Repairs on nearly 600km are expected to be completed by next year, the official added.Among other departments, DDA has about 111.7km requiring repair and marked for redevelopment, DSIIDC 63km, IFCD 27.4km and NHAI 69km. No stretches under NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board or CPWD have been proposed under the plan.Officials said deteriorating roads significantly contribute to air pollution. Cracked and broken surfaces generate road dust, a key contributor to pollution levels in Delhi. Damaged stretches also slow down traffic, increasing fuel consumption, in turn raising vehicular emissions.“Redevelopment work itself can temporarily add to dust levels, which is why construction activities are restricted during severe pollution phases under GRAP. This has led to some delays,” said the official.
