New Delhi: Delhi govt’s plan to reclaim and beautify the spaces below flyovers isn’t flying too high. A peep under Janakpuri’s Lajwanti Chowk flyover will show how far, and filthy, the road to beautification is.
On the way to Tihar Jail, 15-16 cows are sprawled on the road. In March 2025, PWD began inspecting its 102 flyovers for cleanliness, lighting, painting, repairs and beautification. In April 2026, govt signed MoUs with the private entities for landscaping, murals, sanitation, seating and other amenities. A PWD official said: “Initially, 93 flyovers were covered, of which 16 have since been handed over to various agencies/PSUs, leaving 77 under PWD jurisdiction.
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They talk about beautifying these spaces, but I think this area is not one of them,” Vijay, a resident, said. The objective is to ensure that spaces under flyovers are properly planned, aesthetically improved, maintained and put to appropriate public use,” the PWD official said. Their dung is scattered around, and flies have arrived to feast on it. A garbage dump sits a little further ahead and a market is nearby too. Pedestrians cover their mouths and noses as they walk past the area. “It has been like this for years now. People have started feeding the cows. No one cares. Residents have raised the issue on the CM’s portal and with PWD and MCD . But the cows have remained, along with their dung and the pile of garbage. Delhi govt plans to beautify spaces beneath its flyovers, but what is visible on the ground seems quite the opposite. Under the JLN Stadium flyover, there are no cows or garbage piles. But the space has other occupants. A mattress is on the ground and bedsheets are spread out beside it. Children are seen playing beneath the concrete structure. Personal belongings have taken up the available space. The Lodhi Road flyover offers a different picture. Here, the greenery has been preserved, and the main area is secured behind locked gates. The ground is cleaner and the space more orderly. But outside the secured area, people have occupied the open patches. About a month later, govt proposed a plan, called Adopt a Flyover, to involve private companies through CSR initiatives. In Aug, PWD floated a tender for a consultant to design and develop public-use spaces under the flyovers. By Nov, six flyovers had been identified for the beautification. The proposed makeover includes gardens, open gyms and play areas. They added that the consultant has submitted reports and detailed estimates for redesigning the spaces. Tender documentation has also been received for Raja Garden, Ashram DND and Narayana flyovers in the south zone. “Lajwanti Chowk Flyover will also be examined as part of this exercise. Any unauthorised use, if found, will be addressed in coordination with other agencies. Download the TOI App.
Before the Lajwanti Chowk flyover comes into view, a smell greets the commuter. But before the gardens bloom and the murals are painted, the more immediate challenge is keeping the spaces clean, maintaining them and ensuring they remain usable.