NDMC digs Delhi up again to make up for Games rush job

It’s been two months since the Commonwealth Games got over, but the construction work associated with it continues. Several walkways in Lutyens’ zone that were laid for the mega event are being dug up and redone all over again.

It’s been two months since the Commonwealth Games got over, but the construction work associated with it continues. Several walkways in Lutyens’ zone that were laid for the mega event are being dug up and redone all over again.

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The New Delhi Municipal Council’s reasoning for this? “In a rush to meet the deadline, we couldn’t make ramps for the disabled. We are now constructing these,” said an official.

However, the agency tried to deflect some of the blame to power transmission utility Transco Ltd, saying it was responsible for some of the mess as it was laying underground cables.

The NDMC had spent Rs 60 crore on streetscaping.

Work is on at four stretches — KG Marg, Vinay Marg, Safdarjang Road and Mother Teresa Crescent — and will spread to other areas soon.

“Shoddy work was done to meet the Games deadline. Now, the cover-up has started,” said Karan Singh Tanwar, member of the NDMC council.

Admitting they were making up for a hurried job, an NDMC official said: “Work was done in a rush. Hence, at many places, sandstone tiles were laid near bus stops. We are replacing these with cobblestones.”