Sewage overflow, potholes plague Verma’s ancestral village Mundka

Outer Delhi’s Mundka, the native village of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma and ancestral village of current PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, has been grappling with chronic sewage overflow along the Delhi-Rohtak stretch of National Highway 9 for several years.

A ground visit to the area revealed the presence of huge potholes along the crucial national highway stretch, turning daily commutes into a nightmare. Despite big-ticket development promises from both AAP and BJP governments, residents say little has changed. The situation worsens during rains, with waterlogged roads and deep ruts adding to the chaos.

One of the worst-affected portions is the Ghevra Mod–Nangloi stretch, which routinely figures in Delhi Traffic Police advisories. The alerts often read: “Traffic is affected on the Rohtak road in both carriageways from Rajdhani Park towards Mundka and vice versa due to waterlogging.”

Locals say the stretch has earned the reputation of being among the city’s worst roads to commute on. “Parts of it stay waterlogged even on dry days, making bumpy rides and vehicle breakdowns a regular occurrence,” a resident said.

The root of the problem, residents say, is unchecked sewage overflow along the road. The stagnant water seeps into the tarmac, leading to potholes and the gradual crumbling of the road surface.

When the BJP came to power earlier this year, Verma visited Mundka on March 15 and announced that the responsibility for reconstructing the battered road would shift from the Public Works Department to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The 18-km redevelopment project — from Peeragarhi Chowk to Tikri Border — is estimated to cost Rs 115 crore and is slated for completion by March next year.

A visit to the site showed that work on a new sewer line has begun below the Mundka Metro Station, currently being executed by the PWD. But for many locals, the efforts come too late.

Persistent waterlogging has forced several residents to leave the area. “My family moved out because of the poor road conditions over the last five to six years,” said Agraj Pratap, who still owns his ancestral home in Mundka village, but now lives in a rented flat elsewhere in the city.

Prakash Singh, a Haryana Roadways driver who has been navigating the Delhi-Rohtak route for six years, echoed the frustration. “Even when it doesn’t rain, you can see sewer water overflowing daily near the red light just a few metres from the Mundka Metro Station,” he said.