New Delhi: In a major push for environmental protection and anti-encroachment efforts, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will install a steel fence along an 11-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna floodplain, from Wazirabad barrage to ITO barrage, officials said on Monday.
The Rs 18-crore project, aimed at safeguarding ecologically sensitive zones from illegal occupation, is expected to be completed within four months by a selected contractor. The fencing will secure vital restored areas including Yamuna Vatika, Asita, and other open lands on both banks of the river.
“This is part of the larger Yamuna floodplain restoration initiative. A tender has already been floated,” a senior DDA official confirmed.
Earlier this year, the DDA informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it had reclaimed 24 acres of encroached land between January and April under the Yamuna Vanasthali project.
Over the last two years, the Yamuna floodplain has seen the development of multiple recreational and green zones, including parks, biodiversity hubs, and eco-cafés across a 22-km stretch from Wazirabad to Okhla. Major projects include Asita East and West, and Kalindi Aviral, which collectively encompass around 740 hectares and feature attractions such as Baansera Park, Vasudev Ghat, and Amrut Biodiversity Park.
The Yamuna Vanasthali project, currently under development on the eastern bank between Wazirabad and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT, spans 236.5 hectares and is a flagship component of the DDA’s restoration roadmap.
Officials added that future plans include interlinking all DDA parks along the Yamuna, creating a continuous green corridor that enhances urban biodiversity and public access to ecological spaces.
