Decades of repeated bitumen layering and inadequate road milling have raised several roads in Raipur above the level of adjoining houses, causing severe waterlogging during the monsoon season.
Flooding Affects Residential Areas
Even in upscale neighborhoods like DDU Nagar, Choubey Colony, Shankar Nagar, Budhapara, Devendra Nagar, and Raja Talab, older homes that once stood 2–3 feet above road level are now at the same height as roads—or even slightly below.
Mrs. Patel, a resident of Choubey Colony, said, “About 50 houses in our row face flooding every year. We had to raise our plinth because rainwater started entering homes as roads kept rising. Old layers were never milled before resurfacing.”
Similarly, Ramesh Kumar Singh of DDU Nagar stated, “Rainwater backs up from drains, worsening waterlogging. Homes built decades ago now struggle with recurring flooding.”
Legal Mandates for Road Milling
According to the Schedule of Rates (SOR), the PWD and other departments are required to mill old road layers before relaying or strengthening roads.
Following a 2016–17 petition by Dr. Ajeet Degvekar, the Chhattisgarh High Court instructed citizens to approach concerned authorities with representations. After his complaint went unanswered, Nitin Singhvi of Shankar Nagar petitioned the PWD.
In January 2025, the PWD acknowledged that the problem was city-wide and issued orders mandating milling before any new roadwork. Singhvi requested that the directive be extended to all urban local bodies, referencing a 2020 Madras High Court ruling that made milling compulsory.
Inaction by Urban Administration
Despite the PWD acting promptly, the urban administration has not yet issued official directives, leaving homes at risk of flooding. Singhvi highlighted that decades of unchecked layering have left residents living below road level, with dirty rainwater entering courtyards and homes.
Case Example: Shankar Nagar–Lodhipara Chowk
The stretch between Shankar Nagar and Lodhipara Chowk, resurfaced multiple times by both the PWD and municipal corporation, now stands abnormally high, contributing to waterlogging in surrounding homes. After Singhvi raised the issue in January, the PWD principal engineer directed action, but citywide implementation is still pending.
Legal & Civic Precedents
The Madras High Court (2020, WP 1963-2020) ordered that contractors must mill old layers before renewal. Officials must provide public contact numbers, blacklist defaulters, and ensure compensation.
The Indian Road Congress (IRC) has already set milling standards, followed by both NHAI and Chhattisgarh PWD. Recent road renewal on Vidhan Sabha Road in Raipur was successfully done after proper milling, preventing flooding.
