Delhi’s roads take a beating this monsoon, with potholes and damaged stretches across key routes

Delhi’s roads are once again bearing the scars of the monsoon, with potholes, broken bitumen, dusty patches and uneven surfaces emerging across several key stretches after repeated spells of rain, Times of India reported.

A spot check of roads across the city found damaged stretches in areas ranging from Geeta Colony in east Delhi to Mathura Road in the south, raising concerns over the recurring deterioration of roads during the rainy season.

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Mathura Road, a major arterial route carrying heavy traffic through the day, was among the stretches showing signs of damage. Portions of the carriageway near Apollo Hospital in Sarita Vihar were dusty and broken, while another damaged patch was visible near a CNG station on the opposite side.

The stretch connects central Delhi with Ashram, Sarita Vihar, Jasola and Badarpur and also serves as a key link to Faridabad.

A shopkeeper near the road said the problem had persisted for nearly three months. “Water keeps spilling onto the carriageway even when it has not rained, because of the potholes and damaged portions,” he told TOI.

Elsewhere, damaged and cracked portions were visible on the Geeta Colony bridge towards Rajghat. Near Modi Mill, sections of the road appeared dusty and uneven, with loose soil visible at several points.

Similar patches were found on Vivekanand Marg near New Delhi Railway Station and on Ashram Marg. Potholes were also visible on Sachivalaya Marg, close to the seat of the Delhi government, while motorists complained of slow-moving traffic and growing frustration.

The condition of roads has also drawn attention on social media. A commuter on X said the road connecting Sikanderpur metro station with MG Road and Golf Course Road was “broken with deep craters”, describing it as a busy route carrying traffic towards Gurgaon and Faridabad. Another post highlighted a broken water pipe and “Mars-like craters” on a road in Malviya Nagar.

The recurring damage has raised questions over whether pothole-filling exercises alone can address the underlying problem. The Public Works Department has repeatedly undertaken drives to repair potholes on the roughly 1,400 km of roads under its jurisdiction, but fresh damaged patches continue to emerge.

S Velmurugan, senior adviser at the National Council of Applied Economic Research, said poor drainage was a key factor behind the deterioration of Delhi’s bituminous roads.

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“The biggest enemy of bituminous roads, which is the only type of pavement being laid in NCT of Delhi, is the accumulation of water due to inadequate dimensions of stormwater drains designed way back in 1978. This exacerbates huge stress on the city’s overall drainage system, inevitably leading to rutting, ravelling and potholes.”

“Since no major reva-mp has been carried out by govt, road quality will keep deteriorating. If stormwater drains and the drainage system were in the upgraded status, these problems would not have occurred. At present, every major stretch — from flyovers to Inner and Outer Ring Road — is bearing the brunt,” he said.

A road engineer, who did not wish to be named, said concrete roads were generally less vulnerable to water-related deterioration, but bituminous roads remained widely used because of their flexibility, riding quality and ease of repair.

“The top layer comprises aggregates and fine material bound together, followed by the bituminous layer. When water enters the pavement, it weakens the bond and gradually damages the road. That’s why proper drainage is critical. If the road is concrete, digging work gets difficult. Water accumulation is one of the biggest enemies of bituminous roads,” he told Times of India.

PWD officials said several roads had already been repaired and work was underway on other damaged stretches. Tenders have also been invited for repairs.

Mathura Road is maintained by the National Highways Authority of India. NHAI officials did not immediately respond to queries about the condition of the road. (With inputs from Times of India)