New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is working to complete the remaining portion of the airport drain project in Dwarka by the end of July to ensure smooth discharge of rainwater from the Indira Gandhi International Airport area into the city’s trunk drains during the monsoon.According to officials, the construction at Dwarka’s Sector 8 is in its final stages. The 2.8km-long drain originates from the airport boundary and extends for about one kilometre to junction point B, where it splits into two stretches — B-D and B-C.“The construction of the B-D stretch was completed before the 2025 monsoon. It is fully functional, discharging stormwater into trunk drain no. 2 at point D near A Block in Sector 8,” an official said.The B-C stretch is around 98% complete, with the pending work involving connecting the drain at the metro crossing. “With the required permission now granted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the remaining work is expected to be completed by July 30,” the official said.The project was conceived in 2020 to address chronic flooding at the runways, terminals and surrounding areas of Terminal 3 of IGI Airport by creating a modern drainage system for efficient rainwater discharge. However, environmental clearances from the environment and forests department of Delhi govt delayed the work.Construction eventually started in Nov 2022 with the Dec 2023 deadline. The project, however, faced further delays due to multiple departmental approvals and challenges in laying the drain across road intersections. While the earlier drain measured about 2 by 1 metre, the new one is approximately 20 metres wide and 2 metres deep, said officials.As part of a broader initiative to improve drainage, reduce pollution and tackle waterlogging in Dwarka, DDA has also commissioned three sewage treatment plants (STPs) along trunk drains 2 and 5. They include a 9.5 MLD STP at Sector 3 serving trunk drain 5, and a 5 MLD STP at Sector 8 and a 7 MLD STP at Sector 19, both serving trunk drain 2. “The initiative forms part of the comprehensive rejuvenation of the two trunk drains serving the entire Dwarka sub-city,” an official said.A polishing pond has also been developed at the Sector 3 STP to improve the quality of treated water before it is discharged into the trunk drain.According to DDA, the project not only improves wastewater treatment but also enhances the carrying capacity of the drains, ensuring smoother flow during heavy rain. The redevelopment also included interception and diversion of sewage through pipelines to reduce pollutants entering the drains.The redevelopment has added several public amenities, including food courts, plazas, walkways, cycle tracks, an open-air theatre, children’s play areas, boardwalks, toilet blocks, security cabins and the “I Love Delhi” 3D installation. Solar installations, including 44 solar trees with a combined generation capacity of about 220kW, have also been installed along the drains, with the power supplied to the BSES grid, said officials.
