NDMC to overhaul sewerage infrastructure
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to modernise water management and overhaul decades-old sewerage infrastructure in the Capital’s core areas.
The initiatives include smart irrigation systems, expansion of decentralised sewage treatment plants and large-scale rehabilitation of ageing sewer lines in Lutyens’ Delhi.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the Council is implementing environment-friendly projects to conserve water, strengthen sewerage management and develop New Delhi as a clean, green and future-ready city. He said the focus is on using modern technology to improve efficiency while minimising inconvenience to residents.
A key component of the plan is the introduction of a smart irrigation system across major roads, parks and green belts.
The automated and mechanised system will regulate watering based on actual requirements, reducing water wastage, preventing waterlogging and lowering operational costs. Chahal said the system will also cut down the movement of water tankers, helping reduce air pollution.
In the first phase, smart irrigation will be installed along 11 major roads, covering about 19.28 km. These include stretches around Nehru Park, Peshwa Road, Mandir Marg, R.K. Ashram Marg, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, Shanti Path, Panchsheel Marg, Ashoka Road, C-Hexagon, Aurobindo Marg, and Akbar Road.
The estimated cost of this phase is Rs 15.94 crore. Tenders have been invited and are scheduled to open on January 23 and 27, with work expected to be awarded before March 2026. Completion timelines range from six months to one year.
Chahal said Phase II of the project will be taken up in 2026-27, covering another 11 major roads and five large gardens over a length of about 19.61 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 16 crore.
Areas identified include Lodhi Estate lanes, Max Muller Marg, Subramaniyam Bharti Marg, Satya Marg, Niti Marg and gardens such as Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden and Sanjay Lake Park. The NDMC is also scaling up the use of recycled water for irrigation.
At present, 12 decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs) are operational in the NDMC area, supplying treated water to parks and green spaces and reducing dependence on potable water.
To expand capacity, NDMC has proposed five new DSTPs with a combined capacity of 2,250 kilolitres per day at locations including Bapu Dham Housing Complex, Nehru Park and near the INA Metro station. The Rs 57-crore project is currently at the RFP stage, with bids due by January 19. The work is expected to be awarded by March 2026 and commissioned by November 2026.
In addition, eight more DSTPs are planned under the public-private partnership model at sites such as Shanti Path, Race Course Nursery, Lodhi Garden and Talkatora Garden, with an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore.
Chahal said NDMC will also seek approval in its forthcoming Council meeting for major sewer rehabilitation works in Lutyens’ Delhi, where infrastructure is several decades old.
Proposed projects include the rehabilitation of a 2,100 mm twin-barrel sewer from C-Hexagon to Lodhi Road at a cost of about Rs 154 crore in two phases, the rehabilitation of sewer lines on Ashoka Road and Panchsheel Marg, and the cleaning of brick barrel sewers near Kushak Nallah.
