Come 2026, MCD set to repair over 1,000 roads in Delhi to fight dust pollution

Come 2026, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has set a goal to repair around 1,000-1,500 roads, which are under its jurisdiction, in the national capital — a plan that is in line with the Delhi government’s overall strategy to combat the air pollution in the city. Dust pollution remains a key contributor to the city’s PM 2.5 load, according to the government data.

Dilapidated stretches across the city aggravate the dust pollution, according to officials.

The overall project cost has been estimated at around Rs 2,000 crore.

The civic body recently submitted the reconstruction plans to the government for the financial year 2026-27. In its proposal, the MCD underlined that the South Zone and several zones in Outer Delhi such as Narela and Najafgarh need the maximum repairs.

A total of 6,127.78 km of narrow roads fall under MCD, with a right of way of less than 18 metres. Of these, a total 1,503 km of roads have been identified for the repairs, as per the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) framework.

This implies that according to the proposal, 24.5% of narrow stretches, which come under MCD, will be reconstructed. The assessment of the roads were revised twice this year.

The identification of the roads in need of repair, according to officials, is a year-long process. Initially, the MCD planned to repair narrow stretches spanning 622 km — Narela Zone had most of these stretches at 125 kms, followed by Najafgarh Zone at 113 km.

According to one of the first major studies, carried out in 2008 by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) with the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), road dust was identified as the biggest contributor (52.5%) to particulate matter load in Delhi’s air. Later, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research (SAFAR) too established this in its study, as it found dust to be the biggest contributor to PM10, inhalable airborne particles with diameters of 10 micrometers or smaller.

In another IIT Kanpur study submitted to the Delhi government in 2015, dust was again found to be a major contributor. The top four contributors for PM 2.5, according to the study, in the city were found to be dust, vehicles, domestic fuel burning and industrial pollution.

Meanwhile, according to officials, the MCD had earlier this year submitted a proposal of repair of roads spanning 591 km against a budget of Rs 755 crore to the CAQM, but the funds could not be secured.

“This time, for the revised survey of roads in need of repair, the funds will be procured under schemes including the Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan, CM Development Fund, Delhi Village Development Board and MLA Funds,” an official stated.

Officials added that the plan will include improvement and reconstruction of roads and drainage systems in the authorised colonies such as RK Puram, Greater Kailash II, urban villages, rural villages, resettlement colonies and approved colonies under various schemes.

The bituminous roads will be repaired through dense carpeting and relaying of ready-mix concrete. “The life of a dense carpeted road is five years, and it requires regular work,” added an official. According to the plan, a total of 300 km of road length will be completed in the first quarter of the year, followed by another 300 km, 150 km and 250 km for the other three quarters respectively.