New Delhi, Aug. 17 -- The Public Works Department (PWD) has begun repair and maintenance of decorative fountains across central and New Delhi, with a new clause mandating the selected agency not only to ensure upkeep but also to replace any stolen part within 24 hours of a reported theft, officials said. Officials said the clause is a first and could set a precedent for maintaining other public assets in the city. The work will initially cover 14 programmable fountains along Mathura Road and three on Bhairon Marg. The move, they added, addresses theft and vandalism, persistent hurdles in maintaining public infrastructure. "The problem is not just with fountains. We routinely receive complaints about missing flower pots, broken flyover railings, dismantled foot overbridge components and stolen streetlight fittings, such as wires or even doors of electricity panels. This clause puts accountability squarely on the maintenance agency," a PWD official said. According to the tender document accessed by HT, the year-long contract is valued at Rs.2.27 crore, including Rs.1.64 crore for electrical works and Rs.63 lakh for civil works. It covers running maintenance and operation of programmable fountains in Central and New Delhi districts. Along with mechanised cleaning, it includes routine inspection of pumps, lighting and water treatment systems. Officials said the 24-hour replacement requirement, if successful, may be extended to other civic assets. "We want to break the cycle where theft or damage leads to weeks, sometimes months, of disuse," the official said. HT previously reported that before the 2023 G20 Summit, PWD filed over 50 theft complaints....