Page 80 - Delhi

Traffic likely to be hit in Delhi in view of Christmas celebrations

Traffic is likely to be affected in several parts of Delhi on Monday in view of Christmas celebrations. According to police, the churches and cathedrals of the national capital expecting heavy congregation of devotees include the Sacred Heart cathedral near Gol Dak Khana, St Thomas church (Mandir Marg), Free church (Sansad Marg), Cathedral church (in front of the Rashtrapati Bhawan), St Martin's church (Delhi Cantonment), St Thomas church (R K Puram) and St Mary's Knanaya church (Vasant Kunj). Heavy traffic is expected near Gol Dak Khana and on Ashoka Road, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Sansad Marg, Lodhi Road, Aurobindo Marg and other stretches, officials said. Traffic towards Gol Dak Khana will be diverted from the RML roundabout, Bhai Veer Singh Marg or the Kali Bari T-point, Patel Chowk on Ashoka Road and Connaught Place Outer Circle on Baba Kharak Singh Marg , police said. A police official said New Delhi district has divided the duty of traffic personnel in three shifts starting fr

From six stations in 2002 to 288 now, Delhi Metro completes 21 years of ops

Delhi Metro, which began operations with a small 8.4-km line in December 2002, on Sunday completed 21 years of journey dotted with several milestones. On this very day in 2002, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had inaugurated the first stretch of the Delhi Metro from Shahdara to Tis Hazari on the Red Line. Passengers services began a day later on Christmas. Since then, the Delhi Metro has emerged as Delhi's lifeline and the entire National Capital Region (NCR), the DMRC said in a statement on Sunday. "From an inaugural network length of just 8.4 kilometres with six stations in 2002, the Delhi Metro stands tall today with a network of 393 km and 288 stations. More than six million passenger journeys are being performed every single day on the Delhi Metro making it one of the largest mass transit systems in the entire world," it said. In the last 21 years, more than 380 km of additional lines have been laid in the NCR, which is a "staggering feat" and probably, the bigges

Parl security breach: Accused Mahesh Kumawat's custody extended till Jan 5

A court here on Saturday extended till January 5 the police custody of Mahesh Kumawat, who has been arrested in connection with the December 13 Parliament security breach case. Special Judge Hardeep Kaur extended Kumawat's custody on an application moved by the Delhi Police. The police told the court that he was required to be questioned to unearth the entire conspiracy. The prosecutor had earlier told the court that the accused "wanted to create anarchy in the country so that they can compel the government to meet their unjust and illegal demands". The custody was required "to find the actual motive behind the attack and his association with enemy country and terrorists organisations", the prosecutor said. According to the Delhi Police, Kumawat had come on his own to a police station along with co-accused Lalit Jha Thursday night and both were handed over to the Special Cell. He was being interrogated since then, police added. He was a member of the now deleted Bhagat Singh Fan C

4.7 mn commuters used NCMC for travelling in Delhi Metro in last 6 months

Over 47 lakh commuters have used the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for travelling in the Delhi Metro in the last six months till December 12, officials said on Wednesday. The NCMC facility was launched on June 5 and 47.97 lakh commuters have used this facility till December 12, according to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). So far, the highest numbers of passengers used this facility in November. A total of 1.67 lakh commuters used the facility in July, while the numbers were 4.96 lakh in August, 8.52 lakh in September, 12.65 lakh in October, 13.34 lakh in November and 6.81 lakh till December 12, the data stated. The NCMC is an open-loop card, which enables the users to pay metro travel charges, toll tax, parking fees and retail payments, according to the officials. While the card (SV-2) is a closed-loop card and it is used in the DMRC system only. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the indigenously-developed NCMC in March 2019 to enable people to pay multiple

Delhi nears 5,000 EV charging, battery-swapping facilities: Discoms

The EV charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly in Delhi with power distribution companies setting up over 4,500 charging points and battery-swapping facilities across the city and hundreds more to be installed by the end of the current fiscal, discom officials said on Wednesday. The number of charging points and battery-swapping facilities in the city will cross the 5,000-mark in the next few months, they said. According to the latest report of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Delhi consumes 55 per cent of the power consumed at EV charging points across the country. The BSES discoms -- BYPL and BRPL -- have installed over 3,100 charging points and battery-swapping stations at more than 1,200 locations across South, West, East, and Central Delhi. These include 1,260 (40 per cent) private, 1,220 (39 per cent) public and 485 (15 per cent) captive category, said a spokesperson of the company. In the current financial year, BSES will facilitate installation of over 1,200 E

Delhi air quality: AQI in parts of capital improves to 'poor' on Wednesday

Delhi temperature today: The minimum temperature in Delhi is expected at 6 degrees Celsius, one degree below the season's average

Special public prosecutor representing police in Delhi riots case resigns

Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad, who represented Delhi Police in the 2020 riots cases, has resigned. Prasad sent his resignation letter to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on December 15. "I was appointed as SPP for Delhi riots cases which I was continuing till date for three-and-a-half years. In this period, I have handled the prosecution cases to the best of my ability," Prasad said in his letter. "However, now I would not be able to continue and hence tendering my resignation with immediate effect. It is requested that my resignation may please be accepted forthwith," he said. Prasad, who is also the SPP in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, told PTI that he will continue to represent the prosecution in the matter.

Delhi BJP to launch invitation drive ahead of Ram Temple consecration

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday said party members would go door-to-door across the city and invite people to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya after its ceremonial opening. The newly built temple in Ayodhya would be opened for devotees after the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla on January 22, which Sachdeva said, would be celebrated as 'Ram Utsav' by the party. Addressing an organisational meeting of Delhi BJP, Sachdeva said, "We will go door to door giving invitations from January 1 to January 15 and will also talk to the temple committees to decorate all the temples where party leaders and workers will listen to the prime minister's speech at Ayodhya." Large LED screens will be set up to attend the live broadcast of the inaugural ceremony at Ayodhya and Delhi's markets will also be decorated on the occasion for which traders bodies are being consulted, he said. Arrangements will also be made in every ward of the national capital so that devotees can visit ...

Driving lessons at govt-run automated test tracks come up in Delhi

To learn driving, one will now have the option to train under instructors at government-run automated test tracks in the national capital. The move, officials say, is also a step towards safety as people in the dearth of vacant spaces take to roads to learn driving. There are 13 automated driving test tracks in Delhi, two of which -- Sarai Kale Khan and Loni -- have this facility at the moment, the officials said. These automated driving test tracks are linked to 13 regional transport offices (RTOs). The two automated driving test tracks which provide the facility to learn driving are run in partnership with Maruti Suzuki, they added. There is also a Driver Training Institute at Burari run by Ashok Leyland which is mostly for heavy vehicles. "The Transport Department has been asked to prepare a proposal to this effect. We plan to have driving instructors at the 11 automated driving test tracks for common people. One of the reasons behind this move is the fact that there are no vac

LIVE: Jitu Patwari replaces Kamal Nath as MP Congress Committee chief

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Delhi records minimum temperature of 5.5 deg C, AQI in 'very poor' category

Delhi on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 5.5 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The IMD has predicted clear skies during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 25 degrees Celsius, it said. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 100 per cent. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 346 which comes under the very poor' category. 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 on Friday recorded its lowest minimum temperature of the season so far at 4.9 degrees Celsius, which was even below Shimla's minimum temperature of 6.8 degrees Celsius.

DCW chief Maliwal inspects bus stops in Delhi for women's safety

Maliwal noticed that the Ramesh Park and Lalita Park bus stops were in the dark, with no lights at both bus stops

Parliament security breach accused wanted to create anarchy: Police

Lalit Jha, arrested in the Parliament security breach case, is the "mastermind" of the entire conspiracy and he and co-accused wanted to create anarchy in the country so that they could compel the government to meet their demands, the Delhi Police told a city court on Friday. Sources said police are likely to seek the Parliament's permission to recreate the December 13 incident that unfolded on the anniversary of the 2001 attack on it. Jha, who hails from West Bengal, was sent to seven-day police custody on Friday after his arrest last night. Police claimed in the Patiala House court that he admitted that the accused met many times to hatch the conspiracy to breach Parliament security. Besides, he was also required to be interrogated to ascertain whether the accused had association with any enemy country or terrorist organisation, police said. Talking about the future course of investigation, a senior police officer said that they will be taking Jha to Rajasthan to trace the places

LIVE: PM Modi to interact with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

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Delhi largest green belt among metros, pollution down since AAP govt: Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday the national capital has the largest green belt at 23.6 per cent among big metro cities, and asserted that pollution levels in the city have reduced since 2014 through sustained efforts. Rai responded to a query by an MLA about the number of trees planted and the decrease in pollution levels in the last five years in Delhi during the ongoing Winter Session of Delhi Assembly. "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made a resolve and promised the people during last polls that in five years two crore new trees will be planted. And in four years that target has been met," Rai informed the Delhi Assembly. Rai added that the plantation drive will be intensified in the remaining one year. On the issue of pollution, Rai shared the data on PM10 and PM2.5 levels, saying on average there has been a 31 per cent reduction in pollution levels since the formation of the AAP government. In 2014 , the yearly average of PM10 stood at 324 and st

Parl security breach: Manoranjan had no criminal background, say Police

Manoranjan D, one of the two men who jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery on Wednesday, was associated with a social media page 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club" and appeared to be a "revolutionary type", police sources said. The 33-year-old Mysuru resident, along with Sagar Sharma from Lucknow, had shouted slogans and released yellow smoke from canisters that triggered panic and chaos in the House. Soon after the Parliament security breach incident, Mysuru police swung into action and started an investigation to find out the background of the Bachelor of Engineering graduate. The probe revealed that he was associated with 'Bhagat Singh Fan Club' , police sources said on Thursday. "We didn't come across any criminal background. He was a very quiet person but looking at the books he read, he appeared to be a 'revolutionary type'," an ACP told PTI. Another police officer said Manoranjan seems to be an admirer of Bhagat Singh, a freedom fighter who was executed by the ..

Watch: Man with bunny helmet rides a bull on Delhi road, internet reacts

A video posted on Instagram by a user named Bull Rider captures a man confidently riding a bull on the bustling roads of Delhi, all while sporting a rabbit-themed helmet

CNG price hiked by Rs 1 per kg in Delhi-NCR from today: Check new rates

The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) has been increased to Rs 76.59 per kg in Delhi-NCR; the new price of CNG in Noida is now at Rs 82.20 per kg, and Rs 81.20 per kg in Greater Noida

Delhi AQI: Air quality in several parts of Delhi 'very poor' on Thursday

Delhi pollution news today: The AQI at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was recorded at 345 on Thursday at 7 AM and RK Puram saw an AQI of 360

DDA housing scheme: EWS, LIG flats in Dwarka sold out on day 1 of booking

Around 1,500 flats were booked in Dwarka, Narela and Lok Nayak Puram on the first day of booking for the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) recently launched housing scheme on Monday, officials said. Flats in Sector 14 of Dwarka in economically weaker section (EWS) and low-income group (LIG) categories were completely sold out, they said. The registration for the scheme, under which flats are being offered on a first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis, began on November 24 and will close on March 31, 2024. The booking of flats began on December 11. "Around 1,500 flats booked till now in Dwarka, Narela and Lok Nayak Puram under the FCFS housing scheme on day one till now, which includes over 1,100 EWS and around 400 LIG flats. Total registration under FCFS scheme is around 12,500," a senior DDA official said. Under the housing scheme, more than 32,000 flats of different categories have been put up for sale.