Page 45 - Delhi

Zepto expands cafe service to major cities; eyes Rs 1k cr revenue run-rate

Quick commerce platform Zepto on Monday said announced the rollout of its cafe service in major cities and said it targets a revenue run-rate of Rs 1,000 crore by 2026. It will serve through over 120 Cafes at stores across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and soon in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune, a company statement said. "We have cracked 10-minute delivery with high-quality food preparation processes, which is why we are seeing strong customer love. Over the past year, our team has meticulously researched and sourced state-of-the-art equipment for our cafes, including coffee machines that employ handcrafted brewing techniques," Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha said. Serving the concept of a quick meal for today's fast-paced urban lifestyle, the online cafe features a diverse menu with over 148 items, including freshly brewed chai, coffee, all-day breakfast, pastries, and savoury snacks, promising a 10-minute delivery service, it added. Zepto Cafe was launched in April 2022 as a division of Zepto,

'Politics on pollution': Atishi blames Centre as Delhi gasps for air

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi blamed farm fires in neighboring states - excluding Punjab, where her party also governs - for the capital's air crisis

AAP a sinking ship: Delhi Congress chief after Gahlot's resignation

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav on Sunday called the Aam Aadmi Party a sinking ship after its senior leader and Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot quit the party. While Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said many of the issues consistently raised by his party have now been pointed out by Gahlot in his resignation letter. Yadav said that two of the reasons cited by Gahlot in his resignation letter to former chief minister and party chief Arvind Kejriwal were the AAP government's failure to clean the polluted Yamuna river and the corruption in the construction of the 'sheeshmahal'. The BJP had dubbed Kejriwal's former official residence 6 Flagstaff Road as 'sheeshmahal', alleging that he spent crores on luxury items and modern facilities. Gahlot has also heaped more charges on Kejriwal by mentioning the "embarrassing and awkward controversies like the 'sheeshmahal' which are now making everyone doubt whether we still believe in being the AAM AADMI", Yadav said. The AAP has lost t

GRAP Stage-4 restrictions to come into force from Monday in Delhi-NCR

The Centre's air quality panel has announced stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), effective from 8 am on Monday, including a ban on truck entry and a temporary halt on construction at public projects. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued the order as Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened, reaching 441 at 4 pm and rising to 457 by 7 pm due to unfavourable weather conditions. According to the order, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel (LNG/CNG/BS-VI diesel/electric). Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones. Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for those in essential services, the panel said. All construction activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines an

FGD installation can cut SO2 emissions by 67% at power plants in NCR: Study

Installing the flue-gas desulfurisation (FGD) technology in 12 coal-based thermal power plants within a 300-km radius of Delhi could lead to a dramatic 67 per cent reduction in sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, a new study has found. The study conducted by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said there are 11 coal-based thermal power plants within a 300-km radius of Delhi -- Dadri TPP, Guru Hargobind TPS, Harduaganj TPS, Indira Gandhi STPP, Mahatma Gandhi TPS, Panipat TPS, Rajiv Gandhi TPS, Rajpura TPP, Ropar TPS, Talwandi Sabo TPP and Yamuna Nagar TPS. Additionally, the Goindwal Sahib power plant, located just outside this 300-km radius in Punjab, is also considered when making decisions about thermal power plants around Delhi. Between June 2022 and May 2023, these plants released 281 kilotonnes of SO2?? into the atmosphere. However, with the integration of the FGD technology, this figure could be reduced to just 93 kilotonnes annually, the study said. Despite a

Over 600 development projects carried out in Delhi villages in 7 months

Over 600 development projects have been undertaken in the villages of the national capital within seven months of the launch of Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan (DGA), a statement said on Saturday. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recently reviewed the progress and status of projects undertaken in the villages of Delhi under DDA's 'Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan' (DGA), it said. According to the statement released by the Raj Niwas office, there is a provision of more than Rs 960 crore for the DGA. It was informed during the meeting that a total of 642 projects related to infrastructure development and improvement of civic amenities were being undertaken, it stated. The projects began in these villages after the inauguration of DGA in March by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and have, thereafter, been moving at a steady pace. Out of the 642 projects being undertaken, 111 had already been completed, 296 were in the advance stage of completion and 118 were in the early stages of implementation. A to

Delhi bans BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel four wheelers amid rising pollution

Violators will face prosecution under Section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and a Rs 20,000 fine

Manohar Lal Khattar to rename Sarai Kale Khan Chowk to Birsa Munda Chowk

Birsa Munda, the hero of the Indian tribal freedom struggle, played a pivotal role in inspiring the tribal community of the Chotanagpur region to fight for their independence. He led the armed

Congress' 2nd phase of Delhi Nyay Yatra to start on Friday from Gokulpur

The second phase of Delhi Congress' Nyay Yatra will start on Friday from trans-Yamuna area where it will cover 16 assembly constituencies, party officials said. Addressing a press conference, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said the month-long Nyay Yatra will cover all the 70 assembly constituencies before concluding on December 4. Yadav said all top Congress leaders would participate in various segments of the yatra, which will be held in four phases, with the second phasing starting on Friday from Gokulpur in northeast Delhi, and cover over 16 assembly segments. The yatris will camp at the DDA ground, Dilshad Garden, he added. The close interaction with the people was a confidence-boosting experience for the Congress workers as people now want the Congress back in power, as only a Congress government could effectively solve their problems and improve the city infrastructure with planned development, Yadav claimed. The first phase of the yatra started from Rajghat on November

Closely monitoring Delhi pollution, strict measures to be taken: Gopal Rai

A day after Delhi's air quality plunged to the 'severe' category, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said strict pollution control measures would be enforced if the conditions worsened. Rai also attributed the worsening air quality to a combination of calm winds and a drop in temperature that caused the pollutants to remain trapped in the air. The national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am remained in the 'severe' category, with a reading of 428. On Wednesday, Delhi reported the worst AQI in the country, with the air quality turning 'severe' for the first time this season. Rai said at a press conference that there had been a change in the weather pattern during the past two days. Wind speeds are expected to pick up between Friday and Saturday, reaching six to 12 kilometres per hour and that should help reduce pollution levels, he said. Regarding the implementation of pollution mitigation measures under GRAP III, the minister said it would not be imposed yet as the

Mayoral polls in Delhi after major delays; new mayor to serve just 5 months

The mayoral polls in Delhi were delayed due to procedural disputes between AAP and BJP, including disagreements on the appointment of a presiding officer

Delhi Metro to sell India International Trade Fair tickets at 55 stations

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Wednesday informed that tickets for the India International Trade Fair (IITF) will sold at 55 metro stations across its network. The Trade Fair will take place at Pragati Maidan from November 14 to 27. The online QR code-based tickets for the fair are already available on Delhi Metro application, it said. Delhi Metro will be selling tickets from Thursday at Bharat Mandapam complex in both online and offline mode for the first time ever, the statement said. From tomorrow onwards, IITF tickets will be sold at the customer care/ticket counters of 55 prominent metro stations till the last day of fair on November 27 as per the rates applicable for various categories/days, it stated. The stations where the tickets will be available include Shaheed Sthal, Dilshad Garden and Rithala on Red Line. Samaypur Badli, Azadpur and Millennium City Centre Gurugram on Yellow Line. Noida Electronic City, Indraprastha, Mandi House and Barakhamba on Blue Line. Accor

With 418 AQI, Delhi's air quality turns 'severe' for first time this season

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'

Delhi consumer commission fines Voltas Rs 10,000 for service deficiency

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Voltas Ltd to pay Rs 10,000 to a consumer for failing to repair an air conditioner (AC) unit, observing that it caused him mental agony and physical distress during the summer months. The Commission was hearing the appeal of the consumer seeking enhancement of the Rs 2,000 compensation awarded by a district forum for failing to repair or service a defective AC unit. The Commission comprising its president Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal and member Pinki noted the evidence before it and said, "We have no hesitation in observing that the deficiency in service from the respondent (Voltas) is limited to the failure of servicing and repairing the AC during the extended warranty period." The order passed on November 6 said expenses for the repairs cannot be paid by the consumer. "We modify the judgment dated January 9, 2020, (of the district forum) to the extent that the respondent is hereby directed to pay compensation o

Delhi's air quality 'very poor' for 14th day; temp may drop from Nov 17

Delhi's air quality remained "very poor" for a 14th consecutive day on Tuesday, with an AQI reading of 334, as vehicular emission was the biggest contributor to the city's pollution, accounting for 15.4 per cent. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been in the "very poor" category since October 30, when it was recorded at 307. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", 401 and 450 "severe" and above 450 "severe plus". According to the Centre's Decision Support System for Air Quality Management, vehicular emissions will remain the top contributor to Delhi's pollution over the next two days, with an estimated share of approximately 10 per cent. On Tuesday, it was 15.5 per cent. The national capital's 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm every day, stood at 334, down from 354 on Monday. Air pollution levels reached the "severe" category at one station in Anand Vihar. Across the country,

AAP deprived Delhi residents of better health infra: LoP Vijender Gupta

The BJP slammed the AAP government on Monday, saying it has deprived the Delhi residents of the benefits of better health infrastructure by not implementing the PM-ABHIM scheme. No immediate reaction was available from AAP over the charge made by the BJP. Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta, in a letter to Chief Minister Atishi, demanded implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) in Delhi. Under the scheme, 1,139 public health centres, testing labs and critical care units were to be established in Delhi's 11 districts but the AAP government did not use the Rs 2,406 crore provided by the Centre for these facilities, he alleged. "Delhi is the only state in the country that has not benefited from this scheme," he claimed. Delhi was allocated Rs 2,406 crore, which was supposed to establish 1,139 public health centres, 11 public health labs, 10 critical care blocks, four government hospitals with 100-bed critical care uni

Delhi air quality remains in 'very poor' category with AQI reading of 352

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Monday with an AQI reading of 352, while four monitoring stations reported air quality levels in the 'severe' zone. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded until 4 pm daily was reported at 352, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. On Sunday, the national capital recorded the 24-hour average AQI of 335, according to the CPCB. Data from CPCB's Sameer app, which provides hourly AQI updates,showed that four out of the 38 monitoring stations on Monday reported AQI in the 'severe' category with readings above 400. These included Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Rohini, and Wazirpur. Meanwhile, a thick layer of mist and smog blanketed the city during the morning and evening hours, with a high of 32.4 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was also three notches above the season's average, with a reading of 17.6 degrees Celsius at 9 am. Humidity levels fluctuated between 96

Delhi reports 5-year high in chikungunya, malaria cases; dengue declines

Delhi registered a record high number of Chikungunya and Malaria cases in the past five years, while dengue cases declined, according to official data. As of November 9 this year, 728 malaria cases and 172 chikungunya cases were reported in the city. In 2020, there were 228 malaria cases, in 2021, 167 cases, in 2022, 263 cases, and in 2023, 426 cases. The tally includes 19 cases reported in the week leading up to November 9, according to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's weekly report on mosquito-borne diseases. The number of chikungunya cases in 2020 stood at 111, in 2021, there were 89 cases, in 2022, 48 cases, and in 2023, 65 cases. This year, as of November 9, the number of chikungunya cases was 172. Meanwhile, 4,533 dengue cases were reported in Delhi in 2024, including 472 cases in November. In comparison, there were 9,266 dengue cases reported in 2023. The number of dengue cases has sharply declined since last month, when it doubled to 2,431 cases from 1,052 cases in

Stuck in traffic? Gurugram to Delhi now takes longer than flying to Mumbai

Why Gurugram's commute is a constant struggle: The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, once a model of seamless connectivity, now battles constant congestion, bottlenecks, and sluggish traffic

Council of ministers recommends deploying 10K CDVs as bus marshals: AAP

A day after the Delhi government approved the reinstatement of 10,000 civil defence volunteers (CDVs), the ruling AAP on Sunday claimed the council of ministers has recommended their "immediate" deployment as bus marshals. On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said that her government has passed a proposal to reinstate the CDVs removed as bus marshals in October 2023, for the next four months on duties involving enforcement of various anti-pollution measures. In a meeting held at Delhi secretariat on Sunday, the council of ministers handed over a report to Atishi, recommending immediate reinstatement of 10,000 bus marshals, the AAP said. The proposal for reinstatement of 10,000 CDVs as bus marshals will be sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for his approval, the party added. The CDVs were removed after objections were raised that they could only be deployed in disaster management duties and their use as bus marshals was against the rules. Atishi had said that the CDVs will