Why Delhi’s streets become waterways
URBAN MESS Delhi’s roads are a nightmare for commuters every monsoon, civic agencies react after a hue and cry — till the next year
Monsoon is eagerly awaited in Delhi. But it is also equally dreaded due to the waterlogging and traffic jams. To save commuters from the monsoon mess, the traffic police flagged 350 waterlogging prone places to the Public Works Department, Delhi Jal Board, municipal corporations, railways and other agencies.
They highlighted over 150 perennial problem points that have been seen waterlogging for over five years. These areas included Azad Market Chowk (Rani Jhansi Road), Defence Colony Flyover, Laxmi Nagar Metro Station (Vikas Marg), Kamla Market roundabout, AIIMS underpass and Adhchini T-point.
To initiate action, Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal directed officials concerned to lay down a system to deal with waterlogging. While the authorities claim to have made arrangements, no joint inspection has not been done so far, traffic officials said. “Our staff said repair work is being carried out actively at many points but a joint inspection will help identify areas that still need attention,” senior traffic police officials said.
Road repair before monsoon
In September 2016, the underpass connecting Zakhira and Inderlok was inundated in chest-high water and five DTC buses were stranded. The drivers said they miscalculated the water level and nearly 60 passengers were stuck in the buses for nearly an hour before they were rescued. The evacuation took over two hours and the police had to use cranes.
This year, the pre-monsoon showers led to a jam that stretched into hours near the Shahdara railway underpass.
According to the agencies, 1,447 pumps — which often falter when demand is high— have been installed at vulnerable points to avoid waterlogging. But there is not other action plan.
According to Dr S Velumurugan, senior principal scientist from the Central Road Research Institute, chances of waterlogging are high when the city gets continuous rain (between 2 and 2.5 cm) stretching over hours. “But in a city like Delhi such a situation arises only in peak monsoon. If waterlogging takes place on other days too, it reflects the poor preparedness of the agencies. It means drainage is either absent or choked,” he said.
Experts say many natural storm drains are ‘missing’ and probably levelled to build shops and parking lots. Those that remain carry domestic sewage and industrial waste. In 2015, a committee was formed by the NGT to conduct a survey using Delhi’s drainage map of 1976. The panel found that 44 of 201 natural drains were missing. “Some drains were found later but a majority are still missing. If these drains had been in place, there would have been no waterlogging,” said Manoj Misra, convener, Yamuna Jiya Abhiyaan.
The traffic police have arranged for cranes to remove fallen trees and vehicles that break down due to waterlogging, said Garima Bhatnagar, joint CP (Traffic). The PWD and MCD have formed teams for regular visits to affected areas. Zakhira Underpass
Azad Market Chowk DCM to Filmistan Rani Jhansi Road, Kishan Ganj
Chhawla Bus Stand on the arm going towards Dhansa Bus Stand, Najafgarh
In front of Shani Mandir-RTR Marg Ghitorni Metro Station on MG Road
water-logging points identified by traffic cops Adhchini T-Point on Aurbindo Marg Saket Metro Station, Lado Sarai
are perennial spots where waterogging happens every monsoon
pumps installed to avoid waterlogging this season