Delhi: Potholes on Delhi’s roads continue to grow in number, causing accidents and severe traffic disruptions, yet the Public Works Department (PWD) remains unresponsive to repeated complaints from the Traffic Police. Meanwhile, fatal accidents continue to rise—Delhi Police data shows that fatal accidents increased to 1,504 in 2024, up from 1,432 in 2023, reflecting a 4.7% rise. Despite consistent warnings and urgent repair requests, authorities have largely ignored the worsening road conditions, leading to increasing risks for motorists and pedestrians alike.
From March 1 to 22, a total of 1,218 complaints regarding road conditions were lodged with the PWD of the Delhi government. In February, there were 730 complaints. Despite these reports, a significant number remain unresolved. As of March, 687 complaints were still pending, while in February, the backlog stood at 221. This translates to a pendency rate of 56.4% for March and 30.2% for February 2025.
Most complaints highlight broken roads, potholes, and waterlogged streets under the PWD’s jurisdiction. Interestingly, many complaints also concern broken footpaths, forcing pedestrians onto roads, further increasing the risk of accidents.
On March 10, 2025, Rashid Khan, a 37-year-old motorcyclist, lost his life in South Delhi’s Tigri area near Hamdard Hospital along the Mehrauli-Badarpur road. Police reports indicate that Khan was found unconscious with a severe head injury after his motorcycle skidded on a pothole. His bike and helmet were discovered nearby, but the helmet was clutched in his hand, not worn.
Witnesses allege he lost control while attempting to navigate a waterlogged pothole approximately six inches deep, leading to a fatal fall. Despite being rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, he was pronounced dead on arrival. Authorities are awaiting a post-mortem report to determine whether head trauma or possible drowning was the primary cause of death. They are also investigating whether another vehicle was involved. A case has been filed under provisions for rash driving and causing death by negligence.
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crash report 2023
According to the Delhi Traffic Police’s 2023 crash report, pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users, accounting for 43% of total fatalities, followed by two-wheeler riders, who comprised 38% of deaths. The report also identified 10 black spots with the highest number of accidents: ISBT Kashmere Gate, Mukarba Chowk, Libaspur bus stand, Kashmere Gate Chowk, Burari Chowk, Britannia Chowk, Bhalswa Chowk, Wazirpur Depot, Mori Gate, and Gandhi Vihar bus stand. Additionally, 10 other roads recorded 10 or more fatalities in 2023, including NH-8, Kanjhawala Road, NH-24, Patel Road, and Pankha Road.
The Delhi Traffic Police identified overspeeding, drunk driving, and widespread disregard for traffic regulations as the leading causes of fatal accidents. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Kime Kaming emphasised the need for road safety, stating, “Our goal is to ensure that people drive responsibly and arrive at their destinations unharmed. Despite conducting numerous awareness campaigns, many drivers continue to ignore them. You can’t force someone to learn if they’re unwilling.”
He highlighted that motorcyclists are among the most common victims in road accidents. “The majority of deadly two-wheeler crashes happen because riders skip helmets. That said, drivers of larger vehicles are just as culpable—speeding, driving under the influence, or failing to slow down at speed breakers. Pedestrians also face danger from this reckless behaviour. For car[1]related deaths, not wearing seatbelts remains a significant issue,” he explained.
Kaming also noted that potholes have not caused as many accidents as drunk driving and overspeeding. “Accidents caused by potholes are much fewer in comparison if we look at the data. This has been corroborated by multiple holistic studies,” he said.
According to the PWD complaints portal, Delhi Police officials have flagged multiple instances of broken roads, but their concerns have been ignored by PWD officials.
Traffic Police’s complaints fall on deaf ears
On March 20, the Traffic Police requested the PWD to fix potholes at Janakpuri District Centre Road, but the complaint remains unresolved. Similarly, on March 19, the police urged the Delhi government to repair a footpath near Peeragarhi’s pillar 263 to prevent accidents—no action has been taken. That same day, potholes along Mangolpuri’s Peeragarhi Chowk were also reported but remain unaddressed. Between February and March, the Traffic Police lodged 12 unanswered complaints, including one concerning an illegal passageway at Sarita Vihar facilitating wrong-way traffic.
Despite multiple requests from the Traffic Police, the prevailing perception remains that the PWD acts only when directed by the incumbent government.
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Commuters remain wary of Delhi’s roads
Raj Mishra, a resident of Madanpur Khadar, expressed frustration over the PWD’s roadworks. “Near Kalkaji to Sarita Vihar underpass, the PWD has begun breaking and ‘fixing’ roads that did not need fixing. Now, the entire service road is broken, causing traffic jams and forcing motorists onto footpaths. This will obviously increase the risk of accidents,” he said.
Many of the pending complaints originate from West and North West Delhi. Some complainants have been raising concerns for years. According to the complaints portal, a resident flagged that Rao Matadin Yadav Marg at Kapashera required urgent repairs. “The entire stretch of Rao Matadin Yadav Marg needs new road/repair work urgently. Broken roads are causing accidents and traffic jams every day. Complaints have been submitted many times in the past but no action has been taken yet,” the complainant stated.
A similar situation exists in Paharganj, where a complainant reported broken roads, dust pollution, and the absence of traffic lights in Central Delhi. No action has been taken.
To address these issues, on March 20, the PWD ordered all senior and field engineers to conduct daily on-site inspections of roads, footpaths, and encroachments, warning that failure to comply would result in severe disciplinary action. Officials have been criticised for being unaware of potholes and poor infrastructure conditions in their areas.
Earlier in March, the PWD set a goal of repairing 7,000 potholes before the monsoon and identified 108 km of road stretches where patchwork would be prioritised.
