Broken roads to potholes: Delhi PWD got nearly 10,000 complaints in two months, shows data

According to PWD data, the department received 2,193 road-related complaints such as broken dividers and surfaces and missing kerbs, in addition to 2,008 and 679 grievances regarding potholes and waterlogging, respectively. Action is pending on 612 complaints regarding broken roads and 654 on potholes.

Data shows that September saw more complaints about potholes and roads than August. “Delhi saw unprecedented rain this monsoon, especially in September… and potholes developed. The department could not start repair work due to the rain… Now, with the monsoon ending, repairs will begin in October. If the pollution ban does not commence, work will be done soon,” a PWD official said.

Further, the department also received 2,080 complaints on non-functional street lights — 653 are pending — and 1,649 grievances related to pruning activities of which 400 are unresolved.

However, according to another PWD official, the figures are based on complaints received but the number of potholes is much higher in Delhi. “There were many hurdles since the beginning of this year… Last year, the finance department asked the PWD to geotag all projects, only after which funds would be sanctioned… by the time geotagging was completed, the Model Code of Conduct (for Lok Sabha elections) kicked in,” the official explained.

Officials said work on several stretches of roads is in the tendering stage. “Some stretches like the Mayur Vihar flyover, Sarita Vihar flyover, and Outer Ring Road flyovers need complete redevelopment; this will take about one or two months… NOC is needed from traffic police. After this, work will start,” officials said, adding that repairs on small stretches will be done in October.

The Indian Express visited several places in the Capital and found broken and pothole-riddled stretches on Akshardham Flyover; Noida Link Road; Ashram Flyover to Moolchand Flyover; Chirag Dilli Road; Nehru Place; Ring Road, Chandgi Ram Akhara red light to Kashmere Gate ISBT; Aurobindo Marg to Press Enclave Road; in addition to several roads in West and North Delhi.

Besides these areas, complaints were received about several roads in Outer Delhi such as in Najafgarh, Patel Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Nangloi, Moti Bagh to Gurudwara Balak Nath temple, and Naraina to Mayapuri stretch. At several stretches, PWD has temporarily used small stones to fill potholes.

Notably, a PWD audit report last year revealed significant deficiencies in the condition of roads and footpaths in Delhi; it found that nearly 84% of footpaths failed to meet the required width according to Indian Road Congress (IRC) norms, while only 25% were walkable.

The audit, undertaken between July and November last year after a Supreme Court committee’s directive, highlighted “engineering deficiencies” in PWD’s maintenance of roads. Only 31% of road signs complied with IRC standards, while nearly 46% of sensitive zones assessed lacked appropriate traffic-calming measures, the report said.