Description: Delhi’s potholes now qualify for archaeological protection, some older than metro stations.
For a city that’s built seven times and still hasn’t figured out how to not fall into itself, Delhi seems to be on an exciting archaeological discovery mission—starring its potholes. Each monsoon, these crater-esque masterpieces resurface across the NCR not as an infrastructure failure but as an urban heritage site. If you tripped on one near South Extension, don’t worry, that wasn’t a bruise—it was a pilgrimage. You’ve just paid homage to a water-filled relic older than your WiFi router.
The civic bodies, of course, promise every year to “fix all potholes before monsoon.” This promise is apparently generated by a government-owned AI tool called “WillFixIt 3000,” which is fueled entirely by WhatsApp forwards and optimistic Excel sheets. The rest of the time, these authorities hold an annual Tug-of-War competition to determine which department is actually responsible for the road. PWD blames DDA. DDA blames local councillors. Local councillors blame the moon cycle. And the moon sighs in guilt.
Meanwhile, Delhiites have developed coping strategies worthy of Olympic medals. We no longer brake for potholes; we brake so our car doesn’t perform an unintentional Bhojpuri movie stunt. Auto drivers now use their sixth sense, honed somewhere between Karol Bagh and 1 a.m. chai breaks, to detect cavity depths that would put NASA’s rover to shame.
Strangely, some potholes have local fan followings. The one outside Green Park metro has been affectionately named “The Black Pit of Gurgaon Returns,” probably because it’s been known to swallow hubcaps and late goals from ISL matches. Urban legends abound: that one near Lajpat Nagar? Rumor says it was last spotted in the Commonwealth Games budget scheme.
But let’s be honest—Delhi has too much spirit to be bogged down by literal holes in the road. So here’s a constructive idea: lean into it. Let’s turn these potholes into eco-ponds. Insert fish. Add fairy lights. Sprinkle turmeric, call them medicinal. Next year, maybe we win the UNESCO award for Sustainable Spontaneous Waterbodies. Tourists will flock from Sweden to experience Delhi’s most dynamic aquatic yoga experience: Dodging!
Until then, let’s keep wearing helmets while walking and maintain that jolly optimism that maybe one day, a road will remain whole longer than a tweet. Or at least, be flat enough for us to eat momo in peace.
#DelhiPotholes #UrbanSafari #MonsoonChronicles #DesiInfrastructure #JugaadForever
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