PWD to repair 3,400 potholes across 1,400 km of roads today

The Public Works Department (PWD) is set to repair over 3,400 potholes in a single day across 1,400 km of roads in the city on June 24. The unprecedented campaign, led by PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, is being touted as the first of its kind in the city’s history and comes just ahead of the monsoon season.

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Terming the drive as a “decisive and historic initiative,” Minister Verma emphasised that the campaign is not merely a repair exercise, but a declaration of the government’s resolve to bring transparency, accountability and urgency to public infrastructure development.

“This is not just about filling potholes. It is about fulfilling a promise to the people of Delhi,” he said.

The campaign will cover both major arterial roads and internal lanes that fall under the PWD’s jurisdiction. More than 200 maintenance vans, equipped with modern repair technology and durable materials, have been deployed. A workforce of over 1,000, including 70 assistant engineers (AEs), 150 junior engineers (JEs) and hundreds of workers and supervisors, will be on the ground to ensure timely completion.

Each pothole identified for repair has been geo-tagged and recorded based on public complaints, drone mapping and detailed zonal surveys. Zones have been carefully demarcated for better monitoring and efficiency.

In a strong message against corruption and laxity, the PWD has instituted a system of real-time monitoring and photographic documentation. Geo-tagged, time-stamped photos will be taken before and after each repair, ensuring complete transparency. Every zone has a designated AE and a senior engineer who will be held accountable for the quality and timeliness of the repairs.

“The minister will personally inspect the work on the ground. There will be no scope for negligence. Non-performance will lead to immediate disciplinary action,” the PWD said.

Local MLAs have also been roped in to supervise the repairs in their constituencies and remain in close contact with residents.

Minister Verma underscored that this effort marks the beginning of a new era in infrastructure governance. “When work is done without corruption and in line with PWD standards, potholes won’t appear in the first place. That’s the model we are aiming for,” he said.

Post-repair inspections will be mandatory, and maintenance vans will remain active throughout the monsoon to handle any emerging road damage. The campaign also aims to address key citizen concerns, including road safety, traffic congestion and monsoon preparedness. “When the system is accountable, the results are sustainable,” Verma said, adding that pothole-free roads are not a dream but a deliverable goal.

With this initiative, Delhi aims to set a benchmark for other cities. The minister concluded with a symbolic statement, “Now, Delhi’s roads will say — when work is done with honesty, potholes fill themselves.”

The PWD has already completed construction of 150 km of new roads, with another 100 km is nearing completion. The target is to construct 500 km of new roads by March 2026.