Mathura Road Commuters Endure Month-Long Waterlogging Nightmare
For nearly four weeks, commuters using the crucial Mathura Road stretch between ITO intersection and Supreme Court metro station have been grappling with severe inconvenience due to persistent waterlogging caused by a leaking Delhi Jal Board pipeline.
The situation has transformed this vital corridor into a daily challenge for thousands of motorists navigating the already congested route that connects to Pragati Maidan, Bharat Mandapam, and Delhi zoo.
Root Cause: Damaged Pipeline During Digging Work
Local shopkeepers revealed that the problem originated when underground digging work allegedly damaged a water pipeline. Since then, the leakage has become a constant feature, with water continuously flowing onto the road surface.
"Some digging work was going on here and after that, the pipeline started leaking. Since then, water keeps flowing onto the road. No one has fixed it," a frustrated shopkeeper told reporters during a site visit on Wednesday.
Traffic Chaos and Safety Concerns
The persistent water leakage has created multiple problems for the high-traffic corridor:
- Slow-moving traffic during peak hours
- Slippery road patches creating safety hazards
- Frequent traffic snarls and vehicle breakdowns
- Additional complications during VIP movements
The situation reached a critical point on Wednesday when traffic police attempted to divert vehicles through the waterlogged lane during VIP movement, only to find the strategy backfiring as accumulated water made passage nearly impossible.
"The waterlogging is making things worse. Vehicles keep getting stuck and traffic comes to a halt," confirmed a traffic officer deployed at the troubled spot.
Official Inaction Frustrates Commuters
Despite the matter being officially flagged to Delhi Jal Board, repair work has yet to commence. The water utility body has not responded to media queries about the delayed response.
Regular commuters like Veer Kapoor, who travels to the Supreme Court, expressed deep frustration over the lack of timely action. "I come here regularly and it is strange that such a prime area is left in this condition. This road leads to Supreme Court and Bharat Mandapam, yet no one seems to be in a hurry to fix it," he remarked.
Kapoor also raised concerns about long-term damage, warning that "eventually, the road will get damaged and public money will be spent again on repair."
As the waterlogging crisis enters its fourth week, commuters continue to face daily hardships while awaiting permanent solutions from the authorities responsible for maintaining Delhi's crucial infrastructure.
