'Government on Wheels': Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma inspects roads, drains ahead of monsoon
New Delhi, July 18
Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma on Saturday reviewed civic infrastructure across East Delhi under the Delhi government's 'Government on Wheels' initiative, inspecting roads, drainage systems and other public facilities ahead of the peak monsoon season.
The inspection covered six to seven Assembly constituencies, with officials, engineers and public representatives travelling together to identify civic issues and ensure their timely resolution.
Speaking to reporters during the inspection, Verma said the initiative enables the government to assess ground realities and expedite development works.
"The Delhi Government, through the PWD, conducted a 'Government on Wheels' tour across 6-7 assembly constituencies, covering issues such as roadside horticulture work, drain cleaning, and potential waterlogging problems in view of the upcoming monsoon season. It is a great initiative where officials, MLAs, and others all sit together in a bus. Over the course of four hours, we cover the entire area, inspecting all major roads, identifying locations for Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), and spotting damaged sections. Our engineers note down every specific point in their diaries and complete the work according to our set targets," Verma said.
The minister said the drive focuses on identifying damaged roads, improving roadside greenery, ensuring proper drain cleaning and locating suitable sites for Foot Over Bridges to improve pedestrian safety.
The inspection comes days after Verma reviewed Delhi's monsoon preparedness from the 24x7 PWD Monsoon Control Room following heavy rainfall in the national capital.
According to the Delhi government, the PWD has identified 45 waterlogging-prone locations, which are being monitored through 179 CCTV cameras. To tackle waterlogging, the department has deployed 754 permanent pumps at 167 locations and 305 temporary pumps at 273 locations across the city.
During the earlier review, officials informed the minister that key waterlogging hotspots such as Minto Bridge, Zakhira, Dhaula Kuan and Moolchand remained operational despite heavy rainfall due to extensive pre-monsoon preparations.
The Delhi government has said engineering teams and emergency response staff remain on standby throughout the monsoon season to ensure prompt action and minimise disruption to public movement.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who lived in Delhi for years, this is a welcome change. The 'Government on Wheels' approach is actually practical—you can't fix problems sitting in a cabin. But let's be honest, 45 waterlogging-prone spots and 179 CCTV cameras is a lot. Feels like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. Real solution is better urban planning and desilting of drains before monsoon. Hope they follow through.
Inspecting six-seven constituencies in four hours? That's barely 30-40 minutes per constituency. Sir, we need more than a drive-by inspection. The real issue is that Minto Bridge and Dhaula Kuan get waterlogged every single year despite all this "preparation." Deploying pumps is good, but fixing the drainage system permanently should be the priority. Still, better than the previous government's 'chalta hai' attitude. 👏
This is what good governance looks like—proactive rather than reactive. The monsoon control room and CCTV monitoring is smart tech usage. But I hope they're also focusing on roadside horticulture and FOBs, as mentioned. Pedestrian safety in Delhi is often ignored. One suggestion: involve local RWAs in these inspections too. They know the ground issues better than any engineer sitting in a bus.
Ek baat toh clear hai—Parvesh Verma ji at least dikh rahe hain ground pe. But bhai, these inspections happen every year, and every year same problems repeat. Minto Bridge, Zakhira, Moolchand—yeh names toh permanent ho gaye hain. 754 permanent pumps? That's a lot of machinery. Let's see if they actually work when needed. Action speaks louder than press conferences. Fingers crossed for a flood-free Delhi this monsoon. 🙏
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