Delhi Govt coffers open, MCD plans 1,300km internal roads overhaul across city

New Delhi: After years of neglect, the internal roads across Delhi under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are set for a major overhaul. With Delhi govt approving funds for reconstruction and strengthening, the civic body has drawn up a plan to upgrade nearly 1,300km of stretches across its 12 zones in 2026–27. In its plan submitted to Delhi govt in Feb, MCD said Rs 974 crore has been allocated under the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) and MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) schemes. This will cover 716km of internal roads, for which the tendering process has begun. To complete the remaining 584km of work, the corporation required an additional Rs 905 crore. Officials said that with the approval now in place, instructions have been issued to initiate the tendering process for the remaining stretch as well. The bulk of the upcoming work will be in outer Delhi, with 349km identified in the Najafgarh zone and 170km in the Narela zone. "We are covering areas based on repeated requests from residents and surveys conducted by our staff. While roads in prominent areas often receive attention through various schemes, the outskirts remain neglected, which is why we are prioritising them," the official said. In the Najafgarh zone, stretches identified include roads in Akshardham Apartments (Sector 19), the mini market in Sector 6, Dwarka Sectors 3 and 10, Kakrola, Surakhpur Road, Mitraon Phirni Road, Gaushala Road, Raj Nagar I, Palam Village, Sadh Nagar, Chhawla and Ambrahi Village. In the Narela zone, roads in Rohini Sectors 22 and 24, Begumpur and adjoining areas will be taken up. In the South Zone, tenders are being floated for works in Hauz Khas, Green Park, the road outside the MCD school in Mohammadpur Village, the CPWD colony in Vasant Vihar and stretches in Basant Gaon and Humayunpur Village. Additional roads will be strengthened using fresh allocations from Delhi govt. In the Central Zone, funds have been cleared for works in Tughlakabad Extension, Konark Apartments and Gomti Apartments in Govindpuri, A and B blocks of Kalkaji, Harkesh Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Bhogal, Defence Colony, Sanwal Nagar, Jangpura, Siddhartha Nagar, Hari Nagar Ashram, Dayanand Colony (Lajpat Nagar 4), Amar Colony and East of Kailash. According to a report submitted by the MCD to the Centre in Dec last year, 1,503km of the city's 6,127.8km internal road network (up to 18 metres wide) required redevelopment. The project was estimated to cost around Rs 2,000 crore, with funds sought from Delhi govt under various schemes. The civic body had proposed completing 1,000km in 2026 and the remaining 503km in 2027. On Feb 17, Delhi govt announced significant financial assistance to MCD to improve infrastructure and curb pollution. Proposals worth Rs 1,330 crore were prepared for 2026–27 to construct, repair and pave about 1,000km of roads. Delhi govt directed that the major works be completed by Sept 30 to help reduce dust pollution ahead of winter. "Work has already picked up pace on projects for which funds have been released," an official said.