Delhi: PWD likely to finalise DPR for drainage master plan by June

The Public Works Department (PWD) is expected to finalise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for drainage master plan in Delhi by the end of June, an official said.

In response to the city’s growing drainage needs, the Delhi government has been working on a new master plan since 2021. To revamp the drainage network, the PWD has divided the city into three basins—Najafgarh, Barapullah, and Trans-Yamuna—and engaged consultants to redesign the system.

According to officials, these consultants have assessed critical factors such as slopes, depressions, and the limitations of the existing infrastructure to enhance drainage efficiency.

While multiple civic bodies handle desilting, the PWD is responsible for maintaining 2,064 km of stormwater drains along the city’s main roads, accounting for nearly 55% of Delhi’s total drainage network of 3,740.31 km. The department serves as the city’s nodal agency for drainage management.

Delhi’s last drainage master plan was formulated in 1976 when the city’s population stood at around 60 lakh. Estimates now place the population at approximately two crore, significantly increasing the burden on the drainage infrastructure.

In 2023, the Delhi Traffic Police identified 308 waterlogging hotspots, primarily caused by heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage, and water stagnation. The previous drainage master plan, prepared by IIT-Delhi in 2018, attributed frequent flooding to factors such as rapid unplanned urbanisation, a shallow groundwater table, and low-lying areas. However, the plan was dismissed by the previous government for being too “generic,” prompting the initiation of a new master plan.

Following the approval of the DPR, the government will invite tenders from private firms to execute the drainage revamp, an official added.

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Last year, the Delhi High Court recommended assigning stormwater drain management to a single agency, citing inefficiencies due to the involvement of multiple departments—a concern also raised in the IIT-Delhi report.

In 2023, Delhi witnessed record-breaking floods, with the Yamuna River swelling to an unprecedented 208.66 metres, surpassing the 1978 flood levels. The crisis underscored the urgency of improving flood management systems.

As part of pre-monsoon preparations, the PWD has already begun desilting drains in a phased manner to mitigate future waterlogging issues.

(With inputs from PTI)