At midnight on Africa Avenue, Delhi PWD Minister sets November 30 deadline to resurface 600 km of roads

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PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh inspecting resurfacing work on Africa Avenue on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

With Delhi’s window for major road resurfacing narrowing ahead of winter, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh inspected resurfacing work on Africa Avenue on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday and set officials a November 30 deadline to improve 600 km of major roads across the Capital.

The inspection came after the Delhi government approved a one-time cost escalation for PWD road projects following disruptions in bitumen supplies and a sharp rise in prices amid global conflicts. Mr. Singh directed officials to accelerate the work but said there should be no compromise on quality.

The department has deployed a third-party agency with specialised machinery to independently check the quality and thickness of newly laid road surfaces, rather than relying solely on checks by the department or contractors.

“Our target is clear: 600 km of Delhi’s major roads will be improved by November 30. I have instructed officials that there will be no compromise on quality. Every road being resurfaced must meet the required standards, and the work must be completed within the deadline,” Mr. Singh said during the inspection.

The November 30 deadline is significant as the PWD has a limited working window for bitumen-based resurfacing. Officials have said roadwork is generally avoided during the monsoon, while laying bitumen becomes difficult in winter when night temperatures fall below about 15 degrees Celsius.

Mr. Singh said contractors would also have greater responsibility for roads after the work was completed. Under the new conditions, the agency executing a road project will be responsible for maintaining it for five years.

The arrangement, he said, is intended to make contractors accountable not only for completing the resurfacing but also for the condition of the road over the longer term.

The PWD manages approximately 1,400 km of roads in Delhi. The 600-km programme is part of a larger effort to improve the department’s road network in phases.

The road repair programme had faced delays in recent months after disruptions in the supply of bitumen, a key petroleum-based material used in road construction, affected availability and pushed up prices. According to Mr. Singh, the cost pressures slowed the projects and necessitated fresh tenders.

“There was a disruption in bitumen supply and prices had increased substantially because of the global situation. This affected the pace of work. Fresh tenders have now been issued and work is being taken up again on a priority basis. We will make full use of the available working window before winter sets in,” Mr. Singh said.

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