Major boost for West Delhi: ₹64 crore project to make Nangloi-Najafgarh road monsoon-proof, relief from waterlogging
New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, and the Chief Minister, Smt. Rekha Gupta, on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the Nangloi-Najafgarh road strengthening and drainage construction project. The project will directly benefit lakhs of residents of West Delhi. For years, this area has been grappling with severe problems during the monsoon, including waterlogging, overflowing drains, pothole-ridden roads and chronic traffic congestion. Once the project is completed, drainage across the entire corridor will improve, roads will be upgraded and commuters will get significant relief from traffic bottlenecks.
On the occasion, Lieutenant Governor Shri V. K. Saxena said that the day was extremely significant for the people of Nangloi and Najafgarh, as their long-standing demand was finally being fulfilled. He said that the Delhi Government had taken concrete steps to resolve the serious problems residents had faced for decades. He informed that works to strengthen the Nangloi–Najafgarh Road, along with the construction of drainage infrastructure, were being initiated at a cost of ₹64 crore. This would bring a positive change in the lives of the people and provide relief from pollution, traffic congestion and waterlogging.
The Lieutenant Governor recalled that in September 2024 he had visited several areas, including Mundka, Nangloi, Kanjhawala, Phirni Road and Rohtak Road, where the situation was extremely dilapidated. Sewage water was flowing on the roads, the roads were badly damaged and conditions were miserable due to potholes and filth. He had then directed the government to take immediate corrective action. However, due to neglect by the previous government, the work could not progress. Praising the Delhi Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, he said that the present government had accorded priority to this project.
He further stated that the project was not limited to road strengthening alone, but also included construction of footpaths, a central verge and drainage infrastructure. Improved road conditions would not only enhance traffic management and reduce accidents, but also significantly bring down dust and pollution levels. He expressed confidence that the development initiatives underway in Delhi would lead to sustainable and positive change in the times to come.
Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta said that the project was a major gift for the citizens of West Delhi. She thanked the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri V. K. Saxena for his guidance and participation in this development initiative. The Chief Minister said that the road and drainage system had been neglected for years under previous governments. However, over the past 11 months, her government had accorded the highest priority to resolving Delhi’s basic infrastructural problems. The commencement of this permanent solution in the area was a result of that commitment.
She said that the Delhi Government was working on improving the city’s entire drainage and stormwater management system using new and modern approaches. Several major trunk drain projects had been launched. Through the Kirari-Mundka Halt Supplementary Drain project, waterlogging issues across nearly 1,500 acres would be resolved. Similarly, the M. B. Road stormwater drain project would provide relief from waterlogging in South Delhi. In addition, the Kirari-Rithala trunk drain project would benefit residents of North-West Delhi.
The Chief Minister added that regular cleaning of drains, construction of new trunk drains and implementation of sewage treatment plant (STP) projects were being carried out simultaneously, so that only treated water flows into the Yamuna in the future and the capital is permanently freed from the problem of waterlogging. The event was attended by Members of Parliament Shri Yogendra Chandolia and Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Delhi Cabinet Ministers Shri Pravesh Sahib Singh and Dr Pankaj Singh, MLAs Smt. Neelam Krishna Pahalwan and Shri Gajender Drall, along with other public representatives.
Delhi Cabinet and PWD Minister Shri Pravesh Sahib Singh said that several roads in this area had been in an extremely dilapidated condition for many years. The present government had taken responsibility for their reconstruction, completed the tendering process and commenced construction work. He said that these were high-traffic roads with lakhs of vehicles passing daily, causing heavy dust and inconvenience to commuters. The government had made it clear that repair and reconstruction works would be completed at the earliest. He further stated that a five-year guarantee had been ensured for each road, and if the quality of any road deteriorates within five years, the concerned contractor would be held fully accountable.
Addressing the programme, Delhi Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said that with the foundation stone laying of this project, an important chapter in Delhi’s development had begun. For the past 11 years, the roads, drains and the overall infrastructure in this area had remained in a severely dilapidated condition. The situation was so bad that neither pedestrians nor vehicles could move comfortably, and conditions worsened further during the monsoon. Today, the Delhi Government has provided a permanent solution to this long-standing problem.
The Transport Minister also said that the project was not merely about road construction, but was a testament to the government’s resolve to build a waterlogging-free, safe and seamless Delhi. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, the government was prioritising the strengthening of infrastructure based on transparency, accountability and quality. He assured the public that a metro service would soon operate along this route as well.
Project Details: Road Strengthening and Modern Drainage Works
Under this project, drainage improvements and road repair works are being carried out on the Nangloi-Najafgarh Road. The total cost of the project is ₹64.04 crore. New stormwater drains are being constructed and existing drains are being upgraded. Proper outfall connections are being ensured with the Ranhola Drain, Najafgarh (Sahibi River) and Mungeshpur Drain. In addition, the road is being strengthened and reconstructed, and RCC crash barriers are being built in the central verge to ensure safe and effective drainage even during the monsoon season.
The project is being jointly implemented by three Public Works Department (PWD) divisions, WR-1, WR-2 and SWR-2. Coordination with multiple agencies, including the MCD, DDA, I&FC, DJB, BSES, IGL and the Traffic Police, is being ensured to make the project effective and sustainable in the long term.