The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has initiated the process to revamp over 6,400 road signages within its jurisdiction, officials said on Tuesday. The civic agency is currently working on finalising tender documents to appoint a third party for the project’s execution. The refurbishment project, estimated at Rs 18.07 crore, is expected to take at least four months to complete.
Last month, the NDMC approved the overhaul of all road signages in line with the latest Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines. Currently, the signages feature a green background, but they will soon be updated to blue, according to an official.
“The road signage revamp was approved during the council meeting, and we are now working on the tender documents, which will be vetted by all departments. Once finalised, the tender will be floated, and a third-party contractor will be selected from the bidders, with the council’s approval,” the official said.
Explaining the need for this revamp, the official noted that the existing signages, installed between 2009 and 2010, adhere to the IRC’s 67:2001 standards. However, these standards are outdated and have been replaced by the new 67:2022 guidelines issued by the IRC. Currently, there are 6,439 signages in the NDMC area, and an additional 80 will be installed, particularly near schools and other important locations.
The updated IRC guidelines differentiate urban signages from those on highways and expressways, outlining specifications for colour, font, size and reflective materials based on factors like visibility and vehicle speed. This revamp was also part of the NDMC’s 2024-25 fiscal budget, which highlighted the need to replace older signages using Type XI reflective sheets, as the previous Type IX reflective sheets have reached the end of their lifespan.
“For enhanced safety, the proposal to replace road signages in the NDMC area is set for implementation in FY 2024-25,” the budget speech mentioned.
With inputs from PTI