Delhi flyovers to get themed spaces, 400-500 police booths

The neglected spaces beneath Delhi’s flyovers are being developed into themed public areas, while the Public Works Department (PWD) plans to build 400 to 500 police booths under flyovers across the city to strengthen the police presence at busy junctions.

The beautification project will be funded through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, with companies taking responsibility for maintaining the adopted sites for two to three years. PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh visited the Chirag Delhi and IIT Delhi flyovers on Thursday to review the progress of the work.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd has adopted five flyovers and a stretch of Aurobindo Marg under an agreement with the department. The sites include Chirag Delhi, Panchsheel and IIT Delhi in South Delhi, along with Punjabi Bagh and Mukarba Chowk in the north. The company will maintain the locations for three years.

Rather than following a uniform design, the project assigns a different theme to each site, based on its surroundings. The Chirag Delhi flyover is being developed around nature and wildlife, with wall art and installations depicting birds, animals and plant life amid landscaped greenery.

At Panchsheel, the theme centres on Indian classical dance represented through modern art. The space beneath the IIT Delhi flyover will focus on science and technology, while Punjabi Bagh will have a yoga centre. The Mukarba Chowk site is planned as an inter-transit hub. The Aurobindo Marg stretch will receive a colourful, varied design.

The department said the initiative aims to make better use of spaces that often remain neglected beneath elevated roads. For commuters passing through busy junctions, the changes are intended to introduce greenery, art and other public-oriented features into these areas.

Speaking during his inspection, Singh said the government had been engaging major corporations to adopt flyover spaces using CSR funds. He said the agreements included commitments to maintain the sites for two to three years, rather than limiting the work to one-time beautification.

The minister said Indian Oil had studied the neighbourhoods around the selected locations before deciding on their themes. He added that the department was working to improve the appearance of roads and public spaces across the national capital.

Separately, the PWD is constructing between 400 and 500 police booths beneath flyovers across Delhi. The department will finance the construction from its own funds and coordinate with Delhi Police before handing over the booths to the force.

According to the minister, placing police booths at busy junctions and along major corridors would make police personnel more visible and help them respond more quickly. The work will proceed across the city, flyover by flyover, in coordination with Delhi Police.

The two initiatives will use under-flyover spaces for different purposes, combining neighbourhood-specific designs with facilities intended to support public safety. While the CSR-backed project focuses on beautification and maintenance, the police booths are being developed separately with government funding.