City roads still dug up, MCD gets the jitters

With 49 days left for the Commonwealth Games, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has claimed that it is yet to begin upgrading of 30 major roads for the Games. According to the civic agency, these roads still have to be handed over by other agencies, which are currently carrying out digging activity. The MCD claims that it will need at least 15 days to relay these roads before the Games.
Said an official, "As the deadline for digging has been extended till August 20, it seems unlikely that these stretches will be handed over to us before September first week. We will then take at least 15 days to finish the work. If the handing over of roads is delayed even further, it will become impossible for us to upgrade important stretches.''

According to officials, many agencies like discoms, DMRC and MTNL have currently dug up these stretches to carry out drainage work, lay cables, etc. "To ensure quality work, other agencies have to give us enough time to relay the roads. Rain might lead to more delays in the road improvement work. Keeping all these factors in mind, the roads should be handed back by September first week.'' Some of the roads where improvement work still has to be taken up include Subhash Road, Ansari Road, Church Road, Minto Road, Maharishi Balmiki Marg, main Chandni Chowk road, roads in and around Karol Bagh and Paharganj, roads around Delhi University areas, etc.

Said leader of House, Subhash Arya, "We wanted to complete the work of relaying roads by August 31 as that is the deadline given by the Delhi government for completing all Commonwealth games-related projects. However, as digging is allowed till August 20, this cannot happen on 30 major stretches. The areas where majority of these roads are located include Delhi University, City and Karol Bagh zones.''

NDMC is yet to start the work of relaying the roads in CP as well. The civic body has claimed that it will complete the task of relaying the roads in the area by August 31. It had earlier planned to construct concrete roads in the area. However, the plan was dropped as concrete roads take more time to settle. The agency will carry out digging of roads again after the Games.