Delhi, now the second most populous city in the world, and consequently heavily polluted, will soon have a greenway trail to be developed by the DDA along the Barapullah drain to provide recreational space and recharge the eco-system.
The project envisages transforming the backyard of the city, the filthy drains into a frontyard, i.e., recreational space with jogging trails, exercising facilities for all age groups and play areas for children.
The project will see transformation of nearly 900 acres of derelict landscape into a beautiful parkway and trail network, which the authorities say will be a model project involving cleaning of the Barapullah drain originating near Said-ul-Ajab near Mehrauli and ending at the confluence of the Yamuna near the Barapullah bridge.
Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung reviewed the project, which is part of the South Delhi Greenway Master Plan, and suggested that it be implemented by the DDA through a project implementation unit comprising representatives from the UTTIPEC, PWD, MCDs, DJB, I&FS, IITs, NEERI, INTACH, ASI and any other departments of State and Central Government.
Mr. Jung was of the view that the project be implemented on a mission mode so that it can be replicated elsewhere in the city and outside. Its progress will be monitored every three months by the UTTIPEC and submitted to the L-G.
The project envisages cleaning up of the Barapullah drain and will have a decentralised biological treatment facility all along the drain. It boasts about providing heritage trail, cycling highways and opening up vast stretches for walking. The greenway trail will connect all public parks along the drain and bring in practice the concept of ‘walk to work’, ‘bicycle on hire’, ‘walk to parks’, ‘safe routes to schools’ and convenient shopping in addition to providing new access routes to nearby metro and BRT stations.
“All piecemeal developments in the urban landscape such as currently gated parks and beautification projects, as well as important new transportation developments such as the Nizamuddin railway station, Sarai Kale Khan ISBT and Barapullah elevated road project will be integrated holistically with this EcoMobility Corridor project,” the Authority said.
The ecological planting along the drains will locally treat stormwater and any overflow sewage, absorb air pollutants, reduce urban heat island effect and improve microclimate of the area. Besides, it will aid rise in water table of Delhi.
The project has a three-pronged approach involving cleaning, providing access and creating value through public space creation. Experts from the IIT and the NEERI would be invited to survey the area and provide various solutions for treating the sewage at source through decentralised biological treatment systems.
New routes, access roads, connections, bridges, boardwalks and walkways would be created so that people can reach the river and it becomes part of their daily route and family activities.
