DELHI METRO RAIL's ELEVATED TRACKS ADDING TO CITY's DRAINAGE PROBLEM

GLOBAL ROAD SAFETY BODY INTERNATIONAL ROAD FEDERATION (IRF) SUGGESTS SETTING UP OF UNIFIED NODAL AGENCY TO TACKLE DRAINAGE AND WATER LOGGING PROBLEM IN DELHI DURING RAINS.

New Delhi June 30, 2017 International Road Federation (IRF) global body working for better and safer roads world wide expressing concern at water logging on Delhi roads during rains, which becomes a major reason for traffic woes in Delhi each year has suggested setting up of a nodal agency consisting of representatives of all concerned civic bodies to tackle the annual problem.

"Each year during monsoons water accumulation on various roads throws life out of gear for few hourssoon after a heavy downpour, resulting in snarling traffic jams, leaving commuters fuming and fretting." said Mr K K Kapila , Chairman, International Road Federation (IRF) . 

“Road network in Delhi encompasses different zones of Authority like Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Public Works Department, New Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Development Authority, apart from the Delhi Jal Board, which is responsible for the drainage of storm water and sewage. Each year after the monsoons, a debate and confusion ensues as regards a particular agency’s responsibility for keeping roads free of water. However, the end result one witnesses is acute water logging, deep pot holes, portions of the roads getting sub-merged and side-walks becoming unusable, causing immense hardship to the general public.” Said Mr Kapila.

“Apart from the suggestion for creating a Unified Nodal agency consisting of DDA, PWD, DJB, all three MCD’s, NDMC ,DMRC and Power Discoms BSES & NDPL to tackle the drainage problems of Delhi, with representatives from each Agency for initiating appropriate long and short term measures, there is an urgent need to find immediate solutions to contain the damage due to flooding of our roads.” Said Mr Kapila.

“With continued urbanisation, the drains are either choked or ineffective to carry the surface water to the deep storm water drains and to the outfall point. The drain in stretches lack adequate capacity. For this, a long term solution with proper network of drainage lines with adequate capacity for storm water and sewage drains is an immediate necessity.” He added.

"However, till such time the long term measures are completed, immediate short term measures must be simultaneously undertaken at locations witnessing water logging. Water Harvesting is one such measure which will immediately remove excess water through harvesting pipes thereby relieving the road stretch from flooding. The agencies named above can identify these locations for water harvesting. This will eventually make all our roads usable during monsoon and thus alleviate the problems of the general public." MR Kapila Said .

“Delhi Metro Rail despite having Rain Water Harvesting system on various routes also needs a separate drainage system to channelise rainwater released from the Metro's elevated tracks to save roads from being damaged and also help in water harvesting” added Mr Kapila.

“Delhi Metro's elevated tracks are also partially adding to the city's drainage problems, as rainwater from the elevated structures flow with force on roads, creating more problems for choked city drains and causing hardships to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Proper disposal of this water would reduce waterlogging on several stretches in the city,” said Mr. Kapila.

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