‘Delhi-NCR Needs Reliable Drainage System, Not Shining Malls & Multiplexes’

Mohit Dixit, a daily road-user in Delhi-NCR, says If Delhi can get paralysed by two hours of rain, it is a worrying signal for the rest of Indian cities. His views:

The Chief Justice of India recently remarked, “Two hours of rain in Delhi and the entire Capital is paralysed.” As someone who travels through Delhi’s roads daily, I can say this is not an exaggeration — it is exactly what we face as commuters.

Every morning, I leave home hoping for a smooth ride to work. But in Delhi, even a light drizzle can throw those hopes off track. The moment it rains, potholes appear as if overnight. Two hours of steady showers, and the roads turn into streams, traffic lights stop working, and traffic comes to a complete standstill. A 40-minute journey often stretches into two to three hours. Sitting in traffic, watching time slip away, has almost become routine for road-users like me.

What makes this worse is the sense of helplessness. We all wonder who is responsible for this situation. Is it poor upkeep of infrastructure, or is it careless planning that ignores basic needs like drainage? To me, it seems to be a mix of both. Roads never last a full season — they break, cave in, or flood too easily. At the same time, so much of the city’s growth is focused on malls, high-rise buildings, and flyovers, while little attention is paid to rainwater management, drainage systems, or green spaces.

This isn’t just about Delhi. The fact that this is happening in the National Capital raises bigger questions. If a city with the country’s largest resources and attention struggles like this, what must smaller towns and cities be going through? Every monsoon, we see the same scenes on the news — waterlogged Patna, flooded Mumbai, Chennai turning into lakes.

ALSO READ: ‘Govts In Delhi Keep Changing, Monsoon Misery Remains Same’

This year itself, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu have faced devastating floods that destroyed homes, roads, and livelihoods. The havoc they created was heartbreaking. In such cases, one cannot help but ask: is the Indian Meteorological Department not forecasting rain accurately, or are forecasts being made but ignored? And if warnings are given, why are authorities not better prepared before the rainy season begins? These questions rarely find answers.

For ordinary commuters, the most frustrating part is the lack of accountability. When roads flood or underpasses fill up, no single authority steps forward to own the problem. Responsibility is pushed back and forth between municipal bodies, state departments, and central agencies. In the end, it’s the citizens who pay the price — in wasted fuel, lost hours, frayed nerves, and sometimes even accidents.

Another issue is the way development is carried out. Lakes and ponds are filled up for construction, trees are cut down for parking spaces, and concrete spreads over every open patch of land. Naturally, there is nowhere left for rainwater to go. On top of that, the drainage systems we do have are poorly maintained. Drains are clogged, desilting is irregular, and repair works are often done in haste. The result is predictable: just a couple of hours of rain is enough to bring the city to its knees.

As a commuter, I am not asking for miracles. But I do hope for foresight and consistent maintenance. Stronger road construction, proper drainage planning, timely preparation before the monsoon, and regular upkeep would make a real difference. Most importantly, there needs to be accountability so that the system works for the people, not against them.

If Delhi cannot manage two hours of rain, it is a worrying thought for the rest of India’s cities. Perhaps true development should not only be measured by new flyovers or tall buildings, but by something simpler: whether our roads and drains can withstand the rain

As told to Deepti Sharma

‘Govts Keep Changing But Every Monsoon Brings Same Misery To Delhi’

Umair Shaikh, a graduate preparing for MBA, says ever since he moved to Delhi, he has been facing issues related to water logging and traffic snarls. His views:

Recently the Chief Justice of India commented on Delhi road connectivity by saying that merely two hours of rains can paralyse the National Capital. I cannot agree more with his views. After completing my graduation in Lucknow, I shifted to Delhi last year in March and joined a coaching in Laxmi Nagar. As some of my friends were living in the East Delhi’s Patparganj locality, I also shifted with them; my coaching institute was about 5 kms from there. There were also many commuting options including the Metro.

However, when I witnessed the first monsoon in Delhi July last year, I was horror-struck. There was waterlogging everywhere in my locality, leaving little space for road users; traffic came to a standstill at several exit points and people at some places were forced to walk knee-deep in water. My question: It is great to have Metro connectivity but if you are not able to reach the station, what good will it possibly be for a commuter?

Soon after the monsoon last year, all of us shifted to the Maharani Bagh locality in South Dehil, a posh area by all standards. But one downpour and the same story was repeated. Clearly, no area, be it a posh locality or any of the suburbs of the national capital, the monsoon misery remains the same.

Surprisingly, there was AAP government in Delhi last year and BJP took over the seat of power this year with many promises including a better Delhi, but governments may come and go, the situation for the citizen remains unchanged. Rain indeed brings relief from the scorching Delhi heat but it brings your life to a grinding halt too. I sometime feels are the city civic officials blind to the citizens problems, year after another year.

ALSO READ: ‘Why Gurgaon Is Flooded In Every Rain, But Never Noida!’

The residents have to deal with the problems of waterlogging every rainy season as the city struggles with a poor drainage system and inadequate waste management. In addition, the increasing infrastructure development and urbanization has led to a majority of the land being covered in concrete further shrinking grounds to absorb rainwater leading to a larger amount of water runoff that needs to be drained away.

The urban nature of Delhi puts immense strain on public services and infrastructure, such as water supply, sanitation, waste management, etc. and the city faces challenges with seasonal encounters and floods during the monsoon season.

What I, as a newly absorbed person in the jungle, can suggest is that a city plagued by recurring waterlogging must urgently upgrade its drainage master plan, preserve and revitalize water bodies and wetlands, integrate green and climate-responsive infrastructure and lastly, fundamental inclusive planning and affordable housing or a sustainable city.

Though these still appear to be a far-fetched dream in the near future, but we need to stand together and stand tall against these nature related havocs which ruin our lives on yearly basis. We need to take the first step one day or the other to secure a better future – at least for our generations and people to come.

As told to Rajat Rai