New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced plans to develop a smart irrigation system to water greenery along 22 major avenue roads and five public gardens, a move expected to reduce water consumption by nearly 70 per cent.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, NDMC vice-chairman Kuljeet Chahal said the project will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, smart irrigation systems will be installed along 11 major roads spanning about 19.28 km, primarily for horticultural purposes. The second phase will extend the system to another 11 avenue roads and five major gardens.

Chahal said the initiative is expected to significantly reduce water usage and curb the movement of slow-moving water tankers on arterial roads, thereby easing traffic congestion. Tenders for the first phase have already been invited and are scheduled to be opened on January 27. The work is expected to be awarded before March 2026, with completion timelines ranging from six months to one year depending on road length.

The estimated cost of the first phase is around Rs 159.4 million. Roads identified under this phase include stretches near Nehru Park, Peshwa Road, Mandir Marg, R.K. Ashram Marg, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, Shanti Path, Panchsheel Marg, Ashoka Road, C-Hexagon, Aurobindo Marg and Akbar Road.

In the 2026–27 financial year, the project will be expanded to cover an additional 11 main roads and five gardens over a total length of about 9.61 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 160 million. Roads proposed under the second phase include Maharishi Raman Marg, Lodhi Estate Lanes, Max Muller Marg, Subramaniyam Bharti Marg, San Martin Marg, Jesus and Mary Road, Manas Marg, Madhulimya Marg, Satya Marg, Chandragupt Marg and Niti Marg.

Gardens to be covered under the project include Satya Sadan Park, Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden, Sanjay Lake Park and the Children’s Park at Madhulimya Marg.

Chahal added that 12 decentralised sewage treatment plants are currently operational within the NDMC area, supplying treated water for irrigation of parks and green spaces. The proposed mechanised irrigation systems will ensure water is applied strictly as per actual requirement and only at designated locations, promoting conservation and minimising wastage.

Separately, NDMC has proposed a Rs 570 million project for the construction, operation and maintenance of five new decentralised sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 2,250 kilolitres per day. These facilities are planned at locations including Bapu Dham Housing Complex, the nursery opposite INA Metro Station, the island at the Rajendra Prasad Road–Ashoka Road intersection, Bharti Nagar Sewerage Pumping Station and Nehru Park.

In addition, eight more decentralised sewage treatment plants are proposed under a public–private partnership model at sites such as the Rose Garden at Shanti Path, Kautilya Marg roundabout, Race Course Nursery behind Tamil Nadu Bhawan, Sanjay Lake Park, Lodhi Garden and Talkatora Garden. The total estimated investment for these projects stands at around Rs 1.50 billion.