With the monsoon season fast approaching, Delhi has expanded its list of critical waterlogging locations, identifying 308 vulnerable sites, an increase of 101 from the previous year. Senior officials revealed this development on Tuesday, highlighting the proactive measures being taken to mitigate waterlogging issues based on last year’s observations and complaints.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has issued a flood control order assigning the monitoring of these sites to various road-owning agencies. Of the 308 sites, 210 are on roads managed by the PWD, a significant rise from the 131 sites noted last year. A senior PWD official attributed the increase in identified hotspots to extreme weather events and multiple heavy rainfall spells witnessed last year. Key vulnerable areas include stretches along the Outer Ring Road, Ring Road, Mathura Road, Rohtak Road, and Bhairon Marg, which experienced prolonged water accumulation in the previous monsoon season.
The remaining 98 sites fall under the jurisdiction of other agencies: 39 in areas managed by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), 17 under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and 16 under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Cantonment, ITPO, and other agencies manage the rest. Officials clarified that the critical locations are areas where waterlogging persists for more than five days during the monsoon season. The list, compiled with the assistance of the Delhi traffic police, is circulated to all relevant departments annually. Last year’s unprecedented floods and extreme weather events in July necessitated the addition of several new sites.
Notably, Lutyens’ Delhi experienced significant waterlogging for the first time last year. The flood control order identifies several critical points in New Delhi, including areas around Kartavya Path, Kautilya Marg, Kemal Attaturk Marg, and other key locations. The NDMC received numerous waterlogging complaints last July when the Yamuna’s flooding caused several drains to backflow, inundating large parts of New Delhi. Additionally, the watchlist includes several sites around the newly developed Pragati Maidan and its integrated corridor. These include multiple locations near Bhairon Marg and the drainage systems around Pragati Maidan, which have been problematic, leading the PWD to issue a show-cause notice to the construction company responsible earlier this year.
Delhi experienced severe weather events last year, with July witnessing rain on 19 out of 31 days, resulting in 384.6mm of rainfall, the third-highest for July in the last two decades, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. The Yamuna’s water level reached a record high of 208.6mm on July 13, submerging parts of the city and leading to the evacuation of over 23,000 people. Civic agencies across Delhi are racing to complete desilting of drains, arrange pumps, and finish other repair works by June 30, ahead of the monsoon onset. PWD officials stated that 90% of desilting work on stormwater drains along its roads is complete, with the remaining expected to be finished by June 15. The PWD maintains a 2,156km network of drains, one of the largest in Delhi.
The PWD has also made its control room and helpline number operational 24 hours from June 15. CCTV cameras have been installed at all critical locations to monitor and prevent waterlogging. Technological interventions, including live CCTV feeds and water level indicators, have been deployed to assist field units in better managing water levels. In addition to these measures, the PWD has earmarked three critical locations for 24-hour monitoring: Jakhira underpass, Loni roundabout, and Karala-Kanjhawala Road. The DDA has also planned to set up round-the-clock flood control rooms and complete desilting of its drains by June 30. These comprehensive measures reflect the city’s proactive stance in tackling the perennial issue of waterlogging, aiming to ensure smoother functioning and safety during the monsoon season.
