No end to woes on Delhi's Press Enclave stretch

NEW DELHI: Since 2021, a 250-metre stretch on Press Enclave Road - between Max Hospital's Gate No. 1 and Pankaj Juyal Marg - has caved in at least six times at various spots. With Delhi Jal Board (DJB) carrying out work on the sewer line for more than a year, a portion of the road collapsed again during the recent showers.
The sewer line work, which was supposed to be finished within three months, is still incomplete and causing inconvenience to commuters. Public Works Department (PWD), which manages the road, has now written to DJB, urging it to wrap up the work.
A spot check on Wednesday revealed that the spot in front of the hospital was heavily flooded. At two places on the stretch before the traffic signal, there were DJB barricades that covered one of the two lanes of the narrow road. Pipes and other construction material were lying around on the footpath as well as the road.
To avoid the water and the barricaded road, motorists were using the right side of the road in a single file, leading to congestion that extended till the malls.
"We have been communicating with DJB about the problem since last year. Work on the deep sewer line has made the stretch hollow and it keeps collapsing at different places, which we keep filling within a few hours every time. It is a very serious issue, but no corrective measure has been taken so far," said a PWD official.
According to a DJB official, there were "permission issues" with the traffic police, due to which a "small part" of the work was left. "However, after the intervention of the vice-chairman, permission has now been granted. The work will be taken up after the spell of rain is over," he added.
In January this year, the situation had worsened to such an extent that PWD warned DJB it would stop its "unauthorised" work if corrective steps weren't taken immediately. Earlier in October, PWD's south road maintenance division had written a letter to DJB.
"The condition of Press Enclave Road has gone from bad to worse as DJB is carrying out its sewer line work and leaving debris on the stretch. Incidents of cave-ins have increased manifold and the ongoing work has turned hazardous for traffic. The matter needs immediate attention," stated a letter by PWD to DJB.
Officials also said that DJB is pumping out toxic effluents in the water drain, which sometimes flows on the road, making the life of daily commuters difficult.