Delhi govt may suspend officials after Minto Bridge flooded again

New Delhi: Following the severe waterlogging at Minto Bridge during Sunday's storm, Delhi govt is expected to initiate disciplinary action against officials found responsible. Sources within Public Works Department said orders for the suspension of engineer-level officials were likely to be issued due to supervisory failures."There were clear lapses in supervision, especially at frequently waterlogged locations like Minto Bridge and ITO," a senior PWD official said. "This is the second time this season that Minto Bridge has flooded, despite continuous monitoring. The higher authorities have decided to take strict action."PWD minister Parvesh Verma had earlier issued clear directions that disciplinary measures, including suspension, would be taken if waterlogging occurred at any of the city's designated hotspots. Minto Bridge underpass was among seven critical waterlogging zones identified for round-the-clock monitoring by the department's engineer-in-chief.According to sources, the engineer-in-chief has now been directed to issue warnings to all zonal PWD officials to prevent further lapses during the monsoon season.The underpass, situated at the junction of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg and Connaught Place, has been a long-standing trouble spot. Despite being under the direct jurisdiction of PWD, repeated efforts to permanently resolve the flooding have fallen short. The issue gained national attention in 2020 when a 56-year-old man died after his mini-truck became submerged during a heavy downpour at the same location. In response, govt initiated new protocols to prevent similar incidents, but recurring waterlogging suggests these measures remain inadequate.PWD officials have previously attributed the flooding to an overflowing DJB sewer line, which mixes with rainwater and contributes to inundation of the low-lying underpass. However, inter-agency coordination issues and infrastructural limitations continue to hamper long-term solutions.Each monsoon, images and videos of stranded vehicles beneath Minto Road Railway Bridge circulate widely—symbolising Delhi's perennial struggle with urban drainage and infrastructure planning.Constructed in 1933, Minto Bridge underpass is located in a bowl-like depression, surrounded by higher-elevation zones. This natural topography makes it especially vulnerable to rainwater accumulation, yet no permanent fix has been implemented over the decades.Despite numerous high-level meetings and promises from successive govts, Minto Bridge remains a stark reminder of Delhi's infrastructural blind spots—where history, geography, and institutional inertia combine to produce annual chaos.. MSID:: 121394609 413 |