With several Delhi roads in shambles following the rains, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday directed the Public Works Department, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and New Delhi Municipal Council to make all roads under their jurisdiction smooth, keeping in mind the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
The Chief Minister, who reviewed the condition of the roads in a meeting at her residence, also asked these agencies to chalk out their action plan by September end so that phase-wise implementation could be monitored at the level of Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta. It was decided that implementation of action plan will be started from October 2009 and would be personally monitored by the Chief Secretary who will directly report progress to the Chief Minister on a daily basis. Ms. Dikshit also declared that she would personally take rounds of different roads to take stock of the situation.
In order to improve accountability, it was decided that duties would be assigned to senior engineers to personally inspect roads under their jurisdiction at regular intervals. The Chief Minister asked PWD, MCD and NDMC to work in tandem so that all roads may be made smooth and durable.
Stressing the need for giving special focus on roads leading to the stadia where the Commonwealth Games events would be held, she added that the roads should be able to withhold traffic pressure during all seasons.
PWD has 450 km of road length in Delhi where MCD maintains 400 km of roads. Ms. Dikshit directed them to co-ordinate with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and National Highways Authority of India in maintenance of roads under their respective jurisdictions.
The detailed action plan, it was said, should involve the layout, street-scaping, greening exercise and strengthening of roads. Noting that a piecemeal approach would only lead to confusion and delay, the Chief Minister said a holistic approach would be required for taking up the repairs and maintenance of these roads. She also instructed MCD to make arrangements for lifting of debris on the sides of the roads, which gives them a shabby look. Additionally, the three agencies were told to make streetlights under their jurisdiction functional.
