The Delhi government approved Rs 6,579.9 mn to strengthen and repair 270.63 km of roads across the Capital, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, with the project aimed at improving durability, road safety and construction quality. The Expenditure Finance Committee chaired by the chief minister cleared the schemes and officials indicated the works are targeted for completion by October. The programme will cover roads in East, North and South Delhi and introduce measures to improve monitoring and accountability. Of the approved outlay, Rs 1,470.8 mn has been earmarked for strengthening 58.292 km of roads in the East Maintenance Zone, Rs 2,473.1 mn for 104.42 km in the North Maintenance Zone and Rs 2,636.1 mn for 107.92 km in the South Maintenance Zone. Officials said the sums will finance surface repair, full-depth rehabilitation where necessary and associated drainage and safety works. Project management will be consolidated by zone rather than issued tender by tender. The rehabilitation process will involve cold milling of damaged surfaces, the laying of Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) as a thick base and Bituminous Concrete as the final surface, followed by tack coats to bond old and new layers. Works will also include lane and zebra-crossing markings, road furniture such as signboards, reflectors and safety barriers, and kerb channels for roadside drainage. Contractors will be expected to deploy appropriate machinery and technology to meet the specifications. The government has introduced a zone-wise composite tendering system to attract road construction firms and allow deployment of equipment and oversight. Contractors will be responsible for maintenance during a five-year Defect Liability Period and any potholes that develop must be repaired within 48 hours. Tenders have been framed to meet dust-control and air-quality requirements prescribed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), and project progress will be uploaded on the Geospatial Delhi Limited/Project Monitoring Group (GSDL/DPMG) portal with geo-tagged photographs and independent audits by the Central Road Research Institute (CSIR) and the School of Planning and Architecture. Senior officials including the Public Works Department minister attended the meeting approving the project.