Barakhamba to become NDMC's first cemented road.

TRAVELLING on Barakhamba Road in Delhi will soon be a smooth- as- butter ride.

The New Delhi Municipal Council ( NDMC) plans to convert the stretch into a cement and concrete road, meaning Barakhamba Road will become potholefree.

It will be the first such road among the areas managed by the NDMC. The road will be re- laid by the NDMC on the basis of recommendations and designs proposed by the Central Road Research Institute ( CRRI).

Barakhamba Road is one of the most damaged stretches among NDMC roads.

Officials said despite spending much money and time on strengthening it, its condition could not be improved.

" Roads in the NDMC areas are among the best in the city. But the same cannot be said about Barakhamba. So, we have planned to re- lay it with cement and concrete," a senior NDMC official said.

The official added that the NDMC had consulted the CRRI for the design and the work on the road would start in about two months. He added that the project would cost the council about Rs 5 crore.

The NDMC, the official said, does not mind spending more as long as the quality of the work is better.

" Normal bituminous roads are not as costly as cement- concrete roads but their life span is only five to seven years. Concrete roads, on the other hand, last as long as 20 to 25 years," the official said.

Officials attributed the deplorable condition of Barakhamba Road to the construction carried out by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ( DMRC). " The road has been riddled with problems since the day the DMRC handed it back to us in 2006.

They had dug up the road while constructing the underground Metro line and handed over to us the re- constructed road. But it was not up to the mark," the official said.

" A study by the CRRI and Sri Ram laboratories revealed that the road had to be re- laid and re- done. It has been decided that a third party will be involved to ensure that the work relating to restoration, development and strengthening is done according to prescribed standards," the official added.

Roads currently under the DMRC include Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Panchkuian Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, Vikas Marg, Tughlak Road, Humayun Road, Aurobindo Marg, M. B. Road and M. G. Road.

In October, chief minister Sheila Dikshit asked the DMRC to hand over the roads which are under their charge to civic agencies, so that they could be revamped.

Dikshit had said the roads were to be street- scaped, strengthened and made green. It was also decided to review these works on a monthly basis.

The NDMC has 132 roads in its jurisdiction, of which 95 are expected to be strengthened this financial year.

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