India, May 28 -- In a bid to prevent a repeat of last year's severe flooding in Lutyens' Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will use robotic and super sucker machines to desilt key choke-points in the Sunehri Pul drain system - a major cause of waterlogging during monsoon. However, the Rs.3.6 crore cleanup operation, which involves complex work in covered and inaccessible stretches, is expected to take at least three months and may not be completed before the rains arrive, officials said.

The NDMC has floated bids for two separate projects: the first, costing Rs.1.91 crore, will target silt removal at the junction of the brick arch barrel and the Sunehri Pul drain near Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road. The second project, cos...