New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will begin carpeting and milling work on 79 prominent roads on Feb 15.The work is expected to start simultaneously across all NDMC divisions. Officials said measures will be taken to prevent traffic disruption. The total estimated cost of the project is over Rs 70 crore.CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), which did the road condition survey and recommended the technical process for carpeting to enhance durability, will monitor the work. The completion deadline is May 31.“A memorandum of agreement was signed between CSIR-CRRI and NDMC in Sept 2024 for road maintenance and training of engineers and staff for five years. Field evaluation was done for the 79 roads in Jan and Feb 2025, following which an evaluation report was submitted in May last year, recommending suitable maintenance and rehabilitation measures,” an NDMC official said.The report identified the stress that some roads showed after over five years of their bituminous lifespan. These roads had deep cracks and showed surface deterioration.“Milling of the top asphalt layer was recommended on all roads before treatment to prevent a rise in the road level and waterlogging in adjoining areas,” NDMC vice-chairman Kuljeet Chahal said.He cited examples such as Atul Grover Road, where a 40 mm bituminous concrete layer was recommended after milling 50 mm, and Jai Singh Road, where, while the carriageway was found to be in good condition, the roundabout requires milling and stone mastic asphalt treatment.Based on the report, NDMC prepared a preliminary estimate for resurfacing 18 roads under the R-I division, including Jai Singh Road, Janpath, Atul Grover Road, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, Sikandra Road, Bhagwan Das Road, Copernicus Marg, Pandara Road, Purana Quila Road and C-Hexagon, with Rs 18.9 crore sanctioned. In the R-II division, 21 roads, including APJ Abdul Kalam Road, Aurobindo Marg, Lodhi Road and Amrita Sher-Gil Marg, will be resurfaced at a cost of Rs 18.7 crore.For the R-IV division, resurfacing of 28 roads was approved with a sanctioned fund of ₹20.4 crore.“This project will significantly improve road quality and durability, reduce maintenance costs and provide a smoother driving experience. It will elevate the capital’s road network to international standards, while road safety and visibility will be further enhanced through thermoplastic road markings,” Chahal said.
