Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena has directed all district magistrates (DMs) to closely monitor the redevelopment works under the “Dilli Gramoday Abhiyan” initiative and ensure their completion by August this year. In a comprehensive review meeting attended by senior officials from various departments, Saxena emphasised the importance of strict project oversight, urging that there should be no room for delays or quality compromises.
The meeting included representatives from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, among others. Saxena instructed the DMs to conduct regular field visits and review the progress of the ongoing projects periodically. He also mandated counter-checking and physical verification of the progress reports submitted by the agencies, insisting that updates on the e-monitoring web portal be made every fortnight, accompanied by before-and-after photographs.
According to officials, 416 projects worth ₹418.11 crore are currently being implemented under this initiative. A significant portion of the funding, ₹273.70 crore, has already been disbursed, with the remaining ₹144.41 crore to be released within a week. These projects are primarily managed by the DDA, with some overseen by other agencies under DDA’s supervision.
Saxena has also mandated that contractors provide a five-year warranty for each executed project. Furthermore, the Earnest Money Deposits (EMDs) of the contractors will be refunded incrementally, at 20% per year, contingent on the quality of work delivered. This measure is intended to ensure long-term accountability and maintenance standards.
In response to concerns about substandard work on completed projects, contractors have been instructed to redo the work to meet the required standards. The redevelopment initiative encompasses a wide range of infrastructural improvements, including the renovation of community centres, village chaupals, crematoriums, panchayat ghars, sports facilities, road repairs, and the illumination of dark spots. Notably, 37 crematoriums across various villages are being revamped, with the potential addition of electric and gas-based furnaces to prevent tree cutting. Proper seating and public amenities are also being planned for these sites, with DMs directed to ensure their maintenance through collaboration with locals and NGOs.
During the review, it was revealed that work estimates totalling only ₹418 crore have been sanctioned, leaving nearly ₹540 crore still available. Saxena instructed all agencies to re-assess village needs, engage with residents, and outline potential large-scale projects such as dispensaries, libraries, roads, drainage systems, and water bodies.
This directive underscores the L-G’s commitment to accelerating the pace of village redevelopment in Delhi, aiming to enhance infrastructure and improve living conditions for the rural populace. The stringent monitoring and accountability measures put in place are expected to facilitate timely completion and sustained quality of the projects, ensuring that the benefits of development reach the intended beneficiaries efficiently and effectively.
