'DMRC has to redo roads in case of more cave-ins'

Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, on Friday, visited the problematic Aurobindo Marg stretch that has seen several cave-ins this season and directed DMRC to tar-coat the road immediately. Nivedita Khandekar reports.

Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, on Friday, visited the problematic Aurobindo Marg stretch that has seen several cave-ins this season and directed DMRC to tar-coat the road immediately.

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DMRC officials said they need a dry spell to start carpeting the road. This prompted the civic agencies to protest that the delay will hamper their work of re-coating of a road that was handed over to them in basic condition.

Mehta's site inspection comes a week after Hindustan Times highlighted how the problematic drainage system below the Aurobindo Marg was resulting in repeated road collapses on the stretch between AIIMS and Green Park market. He was accompanied by senior officials from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and civic agencies.

"Whether or not there is a dry spell, DMRC should start black-topping of the road. If there are any further cave-ins, they (DMRC) should carry out the carpeting again," he said.

On this stretch, work would continue for another month or so at three points near the underground metro stations. So, the DMRC has been asked to put signboards wherever needed to inform people that the work is still going on and also erect view cutters (form of barricades), Mehta said.