Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma on Monday said that the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has removed over 15 lakh metric tonnes of silt from major drains of the Capital in order to prevent water logging during upcoming monsoon season.
According to Verma, encroachments that have obstructed the flow of water for years are also being cleared to ensure that flooding is minimised during heavy rains. To reinforce these operations, 156 new posts have been approved in the department, further strengthening its capacity to carry out large-scale desilting and maintenance work.
Additionally, the Delhi Jal Board is launching a new integrated system called ‘One City, One Control Room, One Number’ to streamline responses to water-related complaints. A significant relief measure is also on the horizon, with the minister announcing that domestic water bills will soon be slashed by up to 90 per cent. To support this reform, a new sewer master plan is being prepared, and a global tender will be floated shortly. Billing software is also being upgraded to ensure transparency and better service delivery.
The Public Works Department has also embarked on a major road and drainage overhaul. A new, decentralised tendering system has been introduced, beginning with areas around Delhi University. This new approach includes 35 separate packages for drain desilting to ensure greater accountability and transparency.
Work on storm water drains is already 35 per cent complete, and the rest is expected to be finished by June 15. In terms of road upgrades, 100 kilometres have been resurfaced, nearly all dark spots across the city have been resolved and 2,500 new streetlights have been installed to improve safety.
PWD Minister also declared that all 1,800 unauthorised colonies in the national Capital will be connected to sewer lines by 2027. Terming it a historic and first-of-its-kind commitment, the Minister said this initiative marks a turning point in Delhi’s infrastructure development.
“This is the first time such a comprehensive commitment has been made with a clear deadline,” Singh stated. He attributed this progress to unified governance across all key bodies - the Centre, Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) which are now controlled by the BJP. “There are no conflicts or blame games now. This is governance focused on delivery, not politics,” he added.
One of the major reforms in this process is the removal of arbitration clauses from new tenders. The Minister further pointed out that delays and losses in past projects like the Barapullah Flyover were due to legal complications, and removing such clauses will help
prevent similar setbacks in the future.