Delhi civic body plans cleaning overhaul for Lutyens' Delhi roads

The NDMC will frame a standard operating procedure for cleaning roads and public spaces in Lutyens' Delhi. The move aims to curb dust, improve road upkeep and tighten safety norms for ground staff.The NDMC chairman had previously apologised to residents of the Lutyens' area over waterlogging in most parts after heavy rain. (Credits: PTI)The New Delhi Municipal Council will prepare a standard operating procedure to improve the cleaning of roads and public spaces in the Lutyens' area, with a focus on pressure-jet water cleaning and mechanised sweeping. NDMC chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi said the council would integrate these measures and institutionalise them through an SOP.Responding to suggestions and feedback on civic cleaning, Dwivedi said pressure-jet water cleaning was already being carried out. In a post on X, he said, "We will integrate it with other things and make an SOP for best cleaning and dust/dirt removal. Then will institutionalise it."Dwivedi said six mechanised road sweeping machines have already been deployed and more will be added soon. He said it was important to ensure a steady water supply for these machines so that dust can be controlled effectively while the roads are being swept.He also said dust on the roads was linked to road conditions and the upkeep of green spaces along the roads. Some of these issues, he said, were "legacy problems" and would take time to fix. The NDMC is considering "reengineering" measures to deal with these challenges, and international standards will be followed while constructing new roads, he added.Dwivedi also announced that fluorescent safety jackets would be made mandatory for all ground staff. According to him, the jackets would make workers more visible to the public, while fluorescent strips would improve safety during dark hours. On a suggestion that ground staff should also be given shoes, he said the need would depend on the nature of the work, citing the example of a pump operator deployed during waterlogging, for whom shoes may not be advisable. He added that other requirements would be assessed and included in an SOP.Earlier this week, the NDMC chairman had publicly apologised to residents of the Lutyens' area over waterlogging in most parts after heavy rain. He had said his outreach on social media was aimed at improving public communication and strengthening the council's feedback mechanisms.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 29, 2026 12:33 IST