Livemint | Delhi government to redevelop nine city roads on trial basis

Oct 12,2019

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government on Tuesday announced redevelopment of city roads that will include creating new footpaths, designated parking for autos and e-rickshaws and removing bottlenecks. On a pilot basis, nine roads will be redeveloped in the next one year.

Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said the project, if found successful, will be implemented for all roads under the Public Works Department (PWD).

There are approximately 1200 kms of road under the PWD in Delhi.

“Delhi is the capital of the country and it should look like one. People of Delhi will be happy to hear that roads in Delhi will be completely redesigned. On a trial basis, nine roads of approximately 45 kms each will be redesigned on a pilot basis and this will be completed in one year. This will also help solve traffic problems and reduce the number of accidents," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi government is looking to redevelop the nine roads at a cost of ₹400 crore. Work on this project will begin by next month. The government is also looking to install street furniture and benches.

“The bottlenecks in these roads will be removed. Space efficiency will be done. There was no scientific planning that currently went into these roads. There will be space for footpaths, non motorized vehicles. There will be special place made for trees. These roads will also have specified space for autos and e-rickshaws to stop. Drains will also be redesigned and redeveloped," Kejriwal said.

These nine stretches include Wazirpur–Rithala, Mayapuri–Moti Bagh and AIIMS–Ashram.

This announcement comes in the run up to assembly elections in Delhi. The AAP government made a series of announcements for development of Delhi in the last few months.

This also comes at a time when the central government is working on a plan to redevelop parts of Lutyens Delhi. The government is looking to redevelop Parliament House, central vista and construct a central secretatriat. Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday will announce the contract for the revamp.