New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has decided to reintroduce the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme for park maintenance, reviving a pre-2012 model that was suspended after the unification of Delhi’s municipal zones. The renewed scheme will allow Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and private contractors to maintain neighborhood parks at a per-acre payment of up to ₹15,000, depending on the zone. Park Maintenance in Delhi
According to MCD officials, the revival comes amid growing concerns over the deteriorating state of Delhi’s parks and the civic body’s inability to maintain them due to staff shortages and delayed payments. Since 2019, RWAs in zones like Rohini, Keshavpuram, and Narela have been awaiting nearly ₹16 crore in unpaid dues. The MCD stated that the updated bills have now been received and payment instructions are under process, with pending amounts to be cleared subject to availability of funds.
In the earlier model, the South, North, and East Delhi municipalities had paid ₹13,500 in the South, ₹8,000 in the North, and ₹8,500 in the East per acre for park upkeep. The civic body is now seeking financial committee approval for reintroducing the scheme citywide and expects the process to formally begin later this year.
To handle larger parks, MCD is planning to engage professional private landscapers. In Karol Bagh, a pilot project has been launched involving the maintenance of 14 parks and development of a 9.4-acre green zone, with a budget of ₹3.6 crore. Future expansions of the model are expected in 11 other zones, with maintenance support sourced from MCD-run nurseries.
Environmental analysts and citizen forums like Delhi Greens Foundation have welcomed the move, pointing out that nearly 15% of Delhi’s parks were in neglect due to the suspension of earlier schemes. The revived PPP model is expected to encourage local participation, increase accountability, and offer long-term sustainability to Delhi’s green infrastructure.
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