About 45,000 residents of Aali Vihar in south Delhi are still waiting for a paved road to connect their colony with the main road, despite land being made available and funds being sanctioned for construction. The unpaved route becomes muddy after light rain, disrupting school travel, public transport and daily access to markets, offices and nearby metro and bus services.
Aali Vihar was established in 1990, but the route linking the colony to the Mohan Estate–Mathura Road corridor remains uneven and unpaved, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi. Residents said the condition has continued for nearly three decades, with several families spending their entire lives in the area without a proper approach road.
The road is used by children travelling to school, residents commuting to work and people trying to reach public transport. During rainfall, the surface turns into mud, making it difficult for pedestrians and vehicles to pass. Residents told the publication that people have slipped and suffered injuries, while rickshaws and school buses have also faced frequent difficulties on the route.
Chiranjee Lal, a 90-year-old former soldier and Aali Vihar resident, said his son had travelled to school on the unpaved route and that his grandchildren were now facing the same situation. “My entire life has passed, but I have still not got a proper route for commuting,” he was quoted as saying.
Local drivers described the impact on everyday movement. Rickshaw driver Sanjay Kumar said a vehicle overturned or caused injury every few days because of the uneven surface. School bus driver Suresh Kumar said even light rain created slippery conditions, leaving buses stuck and requiring nearby residents to help push them out.
The proposed road work involves land belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra had sought permission from the Uttar Pradesh government for roads connecting Aali Vihar with Lal Shiv Temple, Road Number 13A, Pocket-D in Sarita Vihar, Aali village and Mathura Road.
The Public Works Department sanctioned Rs 803.39 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund in September 2025 for road construction and improvement works, according to the report. The package included a road between Aali Vihar and Sarita Vihar at an estimated cost of about Rs 38 crore. The irrigation department had provided land for the road in 2018, while residents said funds for construction were released last year.
Narayan Singh Bisht, general secretary of the local residents’ committee, said residents had continued to campaign for the road but were still waiting for construction to begin. The report did not specify a fresh construction start date or a completion deadline. For residents, the next official milestone remains the start of work on the sanctioned connection to the main road.
