How will Delhi government cut dust pollution with 500-km of unpaved roads

With the onset of winter, pollution levels in Delhi have surged, prompting the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Level 1. The situation has worsened due to dust from the city’s deteriorating roads, causing respiratory issues for residents.
A recent survey by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) revealed that approximately 500 kilometres of roads are in a dilapidated state, significantly contributing to the pollution crisis.
The MCD is responsible for maintaining 15,000 kilometres of roads, but ongoing financial challenges and the failure to form a standing committee have hindered repairs.
For years, the condition of the roads has remained poor, with potholes left unfilled and no new carpeting. MCD officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that only about 68 kilometres of road repairs have been completed from April to September this year.
The situation has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the MCD and former mayor, condemned the current administration’s efforts to ensure cleanliness and curb pollution. He highlighted that broken roads and garbage piles throughout the city are major contributors to the dust pollution that plagues residents.
Singh accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to address local factors affecting air quality over the past decade. He asserted that residents are frustrated with the MCD and AAP’s inaction and are determined to vote the party out in the upcoming assembly elections.
In response to the ongoing issues, the 2024-25 budget has allocated approximately 1,000 crore rupees for the repair of MCD-managed roads. However, Atul Goyal, president of United Residents Joint Action (URJA), pointed out that while the MLA fund has increased to 15 crore rupees, the funds will primarily be directed towards Public Works Department (PWD) roads.
The remaining amount for MCD road repairs will depend on the tendering process, which could be complicated if the election code of conduct is enforced soon.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said that all agencies were “working on war footing” to make the city pothole free by Diwali.
Atishi held a review meeting on Friday with officials from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to assess the repair work on the roads under these agencies.
In the meeting, Atishi asserted, “As a government, our priority is to provide better roads for the people of Delhi. All agencies are working at war footing to achieve this vision and are improving the city’s roads.
Atishi directed the PWD officials to coordinate with these agencies to ensure the repair of the dilapidated roads under their purview. During the meeting, the officials from the DMRC and NCRTC updated Atishi on the progress of the repair work on the roads under their jurisdiction.
The officials from the DMRC and NCRTC shared that over the past week, patchwork and pothole filling on most of the roads has been completed, and all work related to patching and potholes will be completed in the next two weeks.