Govt bets big on road redevelopment
Delhi’s roads, long choked, broken, and dusty, have found themselves at the centre of the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Government’s second budget, with thousands of crores earmarked to rebuild, repair, and reimagine the Capital’s Street network.
Presenting a Rs 1.03 lakh crore budget for 2026-27, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a sweeping set of road-focused measures. These include large allocations for road construction, redevelopment, decongestion, and dust control. The push signals a clear attempt to fix one of the city’s most visible and persistent civic problems.
At the core of the plan is a Rs 12,613 crore allocation for transport and roads. A significant portion will go towards strengthening road infrastructure and easing congestion across key corridors. The Public Works Department (PWD), which handles major roads in the city, has been allocated Rs 5,921 crore. The Government stated that this funding will be used to upgrade road quality and expand capacity where necessary.
A major highlight is the redevelopment of 750 km of roads across Delhi. For this, Rs 1,392 crore has been set aside. The project will focus on end-to-end repair and strengthening of road stretches, with an emphasis on durable, brick-and-mortar pavement. Officials stated that the goal is to create roads that are more durable and can withstand heavy traffic and adverse weather conditions.
In a parallel move, the government has earmarked Rs 1,352 crore for making Delhi’s roads “dust-free”. This will include mechanical sweeping, better maintenance, and targeted interventions to reduce road dust: a major contributor to air pollution in the city.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which manages a large share of internal roads, will receive unprecedented financial support. The budget provides Rs 11,666 crore to the civic body: the highest ever allocation, along with an additional Rs 1,000 crore specifically for road improvement works. This is expected to boost repair and maintenance of smaller roads and neighbourhood streets, which often remain neglected.
The government has also allocated Rs 500 crore for decongestion projects. These are aimed at easing traffic bottlenecks through infrastructure upgrades and better traffic flow management. Among key ongoing projects, the Barapullah Phase III corridor is expected to be completed by June 2026. The corridor is seen as crucial for reducing travel time between East and South Delhi.
