Page 10 - Delhi

Delhi CM inspects ghats, reviews Chhath Puja preparations on Yamuna banks

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday inspected the Yamuna ghats here to assess arrangements for the forthcoming Chhath Puja. She also took a boat ride on the river. The chief minister, accompanied by Tourism, Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, directed the officers to ensure proper preparations for the four-day festival likely to be celebrated from October 25-28. Gupta had earlier announced that her government would set up temporary ghats on both sides of the river. However, she made it clear that immersion in the Yamuna waters is not allowed by the courts. Meanwhile, the Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control Department has identified at least 100 points along the Yamuna River and other areas where temporary arrangements are being made, officials said. The department will be handling the preparation of ghats, while the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) will be responsible for suppressing the white foam at Kalindi Kunj, which is an annual occurrence, they said. A part of

Delhi artificial rain trial may be delayed due to uncertain weather

The Delhi government's plan to conduct artificial rain trials in the city could be pushed back as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is yet to give a clear go-ahead, officials said. With a western disturbance likely to bring rain later this week, officials said the experiment will only be held when dry weather is assured. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the trial can yield meaningful results only if carried out in clear weather conditions. "We will wait until IMD gives us a green light and confirms there is no possibility of rain. Otherwise, there is no point in conducting the trial," he said. The Delhi government recently signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur for five such trials, to be conducted in northwest Delhi. The project, cleared by 23 departments including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is aimed at exploring whether cloud seeding can help tackle pollution during peak winter months. Funds have already been transferred to IIT Kanpur, which w

Delhi-NCR office leasing rises 2.5x in Jul-Sep on strong corporate demand

The Delhi-NCR property market witnessed a 2.5 times jump in net leasing of office spaces during the July-September period on better demand for premium workspaces from corporates, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Net leasing jumped to 3.79 million (37.9 lakh) square feet in the third quarter of this calendar year from 1.52 million (15.2 lakh) square feet in the year-ago period. Net absorption is a key indicator of real estate demand, representing the net change in occupied office space. Delhi-NCR contributed 23 per cent to the total net leasing of office spaces across the top eight cities during the July-September quarter. Net leasing of office space rose 35 per cent across eight major cities to 16.25 million (162.5 lakh) square feet during the third quarter of this calendar year from 12.08 million (120.8 lakh) square feet a year ago. With 44.3 million (443 lakh) sq ft of net absorption recorded in the first nine months of 2025, the market has already achieved nearly 87 per cent .

SC ends ECC exemption for vehicles carrying essential goods into Delhi

The Supreme Court has withdrawn a decade-old exemption for commercial vehicles carrying essential commodities from paying the Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) before entering Delhi. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria passed the order on September 26, which was made public recently. The court held that the earlier exemption, granted in October 2015, was creating "genuine operational difficulties" and undermining the purpose of the levy. The bench allowed the application of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), seeking the removal of "the exemption granted to commercial vehicles carrying Essential Commodities viz. Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Grains, Egg., Ice (to be used as food item), Poultry Items...laden vehicles from ECC in pursuance to this courts order dated 09.10.2015". The civic body submitted that on account of the exemption granted by this court, serious difficulties are faced as vehicles are required

From gems to gadgets, Delhi lost over $680 crore to theft in 2023

From motorcycles and cars to jewellery, household items and antiques, Delhi reported property losses of more than Rs 680 crore in 2023, retaining its position among the top three regions with the highest value of stolen property across states and Union Territories for the third year in a row, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. The city reported 'property theft', as categorised by the police, worth Rs 688.6 crore in 2023. Of this, the police recovered property valued at Rs 99.7 crore - a recovery rate of 14.5 per cent. Across India, property worth Rs 6,917.2 crore was stolen during the year, with 29.9 per cent of it recovered. Delhi ranked third nationally, after Maharashtra and Manipur. Even though Delhi accounted for a significant share of the stolen property, its contribution to the national total has reduced steadily over the last three years. In 2021, the capital made up 14 per cent of the total stolen property in India. This share dropped to 11.

Delhi air pollution system predicted very poor air quality at 80% accuracy

Delhi's air pollution forecasting system could predict "very poor and above" air quality days with more than 80 per cent accuracy in the last two winters, according to a new study published on Wednesday. The study by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said the city's Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) successfully forecast 83 out of 92 "very poor and above" episodes (air quality index above 300) in winter 2023-24, and 54 out of 58 such days in 2024-25. The system also improved in predicting the severe pollution days (AQI above 400). While it managed to correctly flag just one out of 15 such days in 202324, the number jumped to five out of 14 in the following winter. "The high accuracy of Delhi's early warning systems is a positive sign. Updated emission inventories can improve the accuracy further. It would enable us to have a better understanding of what pollutes Delhi's air and in what quantities," said Mohammad Rafiuddin, programme lead at CEEW. He added that

Airline operations disrupted as Delhi NCR witnesses heavy downpour

Several airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, posted travel advisories and weather updates on their official handles

Watch: Heavy rain lashes Delhi-NCR, offers respite from hot, humid weather

Heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi-NCR on Tuesday morning, bringing relief from the hot and humid conditions of the last few days.

Amit Shah to inaugurate Delhi Jal Board projects worth over ₹1,800 crore

The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a two-week-long Seva Pakhwada on the occasion of PM Modi's birthday, which will conclude on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2

BJP's relations with Delhi are based on sentiments and trust: PM Modi

He added that since the days of the Jana Sangh, the BJP's political predecessor, the party has worked for the city

Over 300 Delhi schools, several airports across country hit by bomb hoax

More than 300 schools and institutes in Delhi and several airports received bomb threats on Sunday morning, which were later declared a hoax, officials said. The mails were sent by a group 'Terrorizers111', which had earlier also sent such threatening communications. The messages landed in the inboxes at 6.08 am of more than 300 e-mail addresses belonging to schools and institutions in Delhi. It was also sent to Delhi Airport among other airports in the country, a police officer said. The subject line of the e-mail read 'Bombs placed around your building, react or face the disaster.' "To the administration of schools and airports, I am the leader of terroristic group also known as terrorizers 111, through heaven and earth in this accursed world which in never anything goes as planned I alone am the untouchable one, I can't push myself to my limits because I am the limitless one, I am the child of evil, I am the meaning of hatred," the mail read. "Bombs have been placed around your

Delhi 2020 riots: HC denies bail to Tahir Hussain in IB staffer murder case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday denied bail to former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma during the February 2020 riots. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, while pronouncing the order, said "the application is dismissed". The police had opposed Hussain's plea calling it a shocking case involving the brutal murder of a young intelligence officer. The evidence, it said, showed how Sharma while attempting to pacify the accused and urging them not to take the law into their own hands, was caught, dragged and stabbed 51 times with a sharp weapon before his body was dumped into an adjoining drain. Hussain's counsel submitted that he had completed over five years in custody and in spite of the trial court's "best efforts" to expedite the trial, its conclusion might take time. The trial court denied him bail on March 12. According to the prosecution, on February 26, 2020, complainant Ravinder Kumar informed the Dayalpur police sta

Delhi inaugurates six switching sub-stations to power DTC electric fleet

Six dedicated power sub-stations opened in Delhi, as the city pushes to cut emissions and expand its electric vehicle (EV) fleet by 2026

Delhi CM to transfer Ladli scheme honorarium to 40k beneficiaries on Oct 1

The Delhi government will credit honorarium to nearly 40,000 beneficiaries under its Ladli scheme on October 1, an official said on Tuesday. The move is part of the ongoing Seva Pakhwada (service fortnight) to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 75th birthday. "The transfers will be made in a single click at an event to be held at Talkatora Stadium, where Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are expected to participate," the official said. Earlier this year, the Women and Child Development department initiated a district-wise drive to identify Ladli Yojana beneficiaries who have not claimed their entitled payments. Many children change districts for schooling but do not renew their registration under the scheme, often due to a lack of awareness. Others discontinue their education midway, further complicating the renewal process, according to the department. "To address this, officials overseeing the scheme in Delhi's 11 districts were ...

Amit Shah to launch Yamuna revival projects worth ₹4,000 cr on Sep 30

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate 46 projects aimed at the revival of the Yamuna worth over Rs 4,000 crore on September 30. She was speaking at the inauguration event of six state-of-the-art switching sub-stations at key Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus depots during the Sewa Pakhwada. While five switching sub-stations have been set up by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) in South and West Delhi, one has been set up by Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) in North Delhi. In her address, Gupta highlighted the multiple achievements of the government and said that the day before, interstate bus services were launched between Delhi and Baraut after a gap of 18 years. "Okhla STP, which is Asia's largest STP, will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Forty-six schemes worth Rs 4,000 crore will be dedicated in one day. These will include multiple STPs," she added. The chief minister said D

Scam alert: Inside Delhi’s ₹23 crore ‘digital arrest’ scam

A 78-year-old retired banker from South Delhi fell victim to one of the biggest “digital arrest” scams reported in India.

Ramleela, Durga Puja events to continue in Delhi till midnight, says CM

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said her government has permitted cultural events like Ramleela and Durga Puja to continue until midnight, asserting that "Ram-rajya should come in Delhi" and for that "we all should work a little." "I always used to say that our Hindu festivals were facing problems. Which Ramleela ends at 10 pm? Durga Puja cannot end at 10 pm. When in Gujarat, Dandiya can go on all night and events can take place throughout the night, then what is the fault of the people of Delhi?" Gupta said. "That is why this time we have given permission till 12 am. All the Ramleela, Durga Puja, and other cultural programmes can take place till midnight now," she added. On Monday, the Delhi government extended the permissible time for the use of loudspeakers and public address systems during Ramleela, Durga Puja, Dussehra, and related events. The relaxation, valid from September 22 to October 3, was approved by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena. The extension pushes the

Monsoon likely to withdraw from Delhi by Thursday; city logs surplus rain

The monsoon is expected to withdraw from Delhi within the next two days, marking the end of a season in which the capital logged above-normal rainfall since May. The IMD said dry northwesterly winds are prevailing and no rain has been recorded in the past several days, conditions that favour the withdrawal of the seasonal rains. With no moisture and no forecast of rainfall, the withdrawal criteria are likely to be met by Thursday, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president at private forecaster Skymet. Although the city received rain on only eight days this month, September's total has already touched 136.1 mm, higher than the monthly normal of 123.5 mm. This continues a trend of surplus rainfall since May. The capital saw its wettest May on record with 186.4 mm, followed by an excess of 45 per cent in June, 24 per cent in July and a 72 per cent surplus in August, the wettest in 15 years. Overall, Delhi has received 902.6 mm of rainfall this monsoon about 35 per cent above the long-per

Delhi ex-banker duped of ₹23 cr after month-long 'digital arrest' scam

Cyber fraudsters posing as ED and CBI officials duped a retired banker in south Delhi's Gulmohar Park area of Rs 23 crore by allegedly putting him under "digital arrest" for nearly a month, police said on Monday. The accused allegedly told the victim that his Aadhaar card was involved in narcotics trafficking, terror funding and Pulwama terror attack and confined him to his flat under the pretext of investigation, an officer said. "The scammers directed him not to step out of his house and coerced him into transferring his savings to various bank accounts over a span of one month," the officer said. According to the police, the 78-year-old victim stated in his complaint that the ordeal began on August 4 when he received a call from a man claiming to be a Mumbai Police officer. The caller accused him of being linked to a drug trafficking racket. Subsequently, fraudsters impersonating ED and CBI officials also contacted him. "Out of fear, the victim complied with their instructions

Delhi to see clear sky with temperature around 35 degree Celsius on Monday

A mainly clear sky is predicted for the national capital on Monday with maximum temperature expected expected to hover around 35 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Delhi on Sunday recorded a maximum temperature of 35.3 degrees Celsius, a notch above the seasonal average, the IMD said. The minimum temperature settled at 24.3 degrees Celsius, 0.6 notch below the season's average, it added. The weather office has predicted a mainly clear sky, with the maximum expected to be around 35 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature expected to settle around 25 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity was recorded at 57 per cent at 5.30 pm, the IMD said. The air quality was recorded in the 'moderate' category at 4 pm on Sunday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 128, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 t