Delhi govt releases single emergency contact number for rain woes

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma announced on Monday that the Delhi government will introduce a single emergency contact number, 311, to address rain-related issues. This unified helpline will allow residents to lodge complaints concerning civic bodies such as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), as well as various government departments, including Public Works and Flood Control, reported TOI.

During an inspection of the NDMC Control and Command Centre, which will oversee the 311 helpline, Verma said the initiative aims to improve citizen convenience during the monsoon season.

"Our vision is ‘One Delhi, One Number'. Citizens need no longer worry about a specific department to address their issues to. They can call 311 and have their complaints redirected immediately to the appropriate department," said the minister.


This new setup is being developed specifically with the upcoming monsoon season in mind. Whether it's waterlogging, broken roads, choked drains, or overflowing sewers, citizens will no longer have to run from one department to another for redressal, said a senior official. The PWD Minister said that a joint meeting of all concerned departments will be held within the next two to three days. This meeting will finalise the operational structure of the Command Centre, deployment of departmental representatives, accountability systems, and technical integration, he said.

The minister said that the NDMC Control and Command Centre would now become the central hub for all major civic departments in Delhi. During the rainy season, the centre would function 24x7 and monitoring officers from various departments would be stationed at the centre to expedite coordination among agencies.

All pumping stations would also be upgraded with automated systems to tackle waterlogging efficiently. "We want to ensure that the public doesn't have to run from department to department. Our goal is not just to register complaints, but to ensure they are resolved in a timely and accountable manner," said Verma.