Rekha Gupta

Delhi to expand bus fleet with 2,080 electric vehicles, retire 1K old ones

The Delhi transport department is set to add 2,080 electric vehicles to its bus fleet over the year, an official said on Monday. It currently operates around 7,000 buses in the city. But around 1,000 of those are set to get off road this year with some already being retired. "We have signed a memorandum of understanding with five different concessioners to procure 1,040 buses. For the second set of 1,040 buses, we will sign agreements soon. Once they start rolling out, it would plug the gap created due to decommissioning of ageing buses," said a transport department official. According to the plan, 1,040 buses will be added to the fleet in the first phase under the Centre's National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP). The scheme aims at introducing e-buses across the nation. The second lot of 1,040 buses will be part of the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme. The scheme aims to incentivise over 14,000 e-buses across nine major cities with

Delhi govt unveils Heat Action Plan 2025 amid soaring temperatures

Launching the plan, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said that it is a critical initiative to safeguard our citizens, especially the most vulnerable, from the escalating dangers of extreme heat

Delhi CM flags off 1,100 GPS tankers to boost summer water supply

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday flagged off 1,111 tankers fitted with a location tracking system to boost water supply in the city during the summer. The system will enable the tankers' location to be tracked on an IT dashboard from the Delhi Jal Board headquarters. "This is a step towards complete transparency. This is not the final solution, we will work on a new town plan to provide water from the tap to every resident," Gupta said during the ceremony marking 60 days of her government in Burari. Water Minister Parvesh Verma, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, BJP MPs and MLAs were present at the event. In its budget for the 2025-26 fiscal, the Delhi government has allocated Rs 9,000 crore for the water sector. This amount includes allocation for installing smart meters, reviving water bodies, laying pipelines and desilting drains, among others, Gupta said. "We have deployed 50 super sucker machines across the city to deal with sewer overflow. The previous ..

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta orders probe into Mustafabad building collapse

Arrangements have been made for proper treatment of all the injured, said the CM

Delhi govt to launch anti-pollution drive with tankers, border checks

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday said the government will roll out a comprehensive framework to tackle the rising pollution levels which will include deploying 1,000 water tankers with sprinklers, installing anti-smog guns in high-rise buildings and setting up CCTV cameras and LED screens at the city borders to prevent the entry of old vehicles. He said the roadmap will outline the city's strategy to fight pollution from 2025 to 2026. Sirsa said one of the key goals is to bring PM2.5 levels down. "We are installing water mist systems at various hotspots to clean the air and help particulate matter settle. This initiative has already shown success over a five-kilometre stretch in Dwarka," he said. The government is now expanding the project to 13 identified hotspots across the city. To intensify dust suppression, over 1,000 GPS-enabled water tankers with sprinklers will be deployed. "These tankers will move to areas with high pollution levels. Their route

Govt making every effort to ensure waterlogging-free monsoon, says Delhi CM

The Delhi government is making every effort, including deploying automatic pumps and personnel at vulnerable spots, to ensure that the national capital remains free from waterlogging during monsoon, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday. Accompanied by Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma, the chief minister inspected the waterlogging-prone Minto Bridge underpass to take stock of the preparations for monsoon. "Automatic pumps have been deployed here that will flush out water during heavy rain and a 2.5-kilometre-long pipeline has been laid to carry the accumulated water out. Operators will also be on round-the-clock duty" Gupta said. Vulnerable spots have been identified and corrective measures are being taken. The Delhi government will take every step in a time-bound manner to ensure there is no waterlogging this year, she told reporters. Gupta will also inspect monsoon preparedness at other major waterlogging points, including Ring Road near the WHO building and the

Delhi govt targets dummy schools, issues notices, starts de-recognition

The action comes amid rising concerns over dummy schooling and the neglect of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students

Delhi govt approves ₹4,000 crore for Yamuna cleaning, prison, EV infra

The BJP government in the first meeting of its Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday approved funds worth Rs 4,000 crore for cleaning of Yamuna and construction of a high security prison in Narela besides others. Speaking at an event here, the chief minister said the EFC approved infrastructure projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, including Rs 3,140 crore for construction of 27 sewage treatment plants (STPs) and laying of sewerlines to augment efforts to clean the heavily polluted Yamuna in Delhi. The meeting chaired by the chief minister was attended by Cabinet Ministers Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Kapil Mishra and Pankaj Singh along with senior officers. Gupta said that construction of 27 decentralized sewage treatment plants have been approved in the meeting. Additionally, to strengthen Delhi's transport infrastructure, approval was given for the establishment of charging stations for electric buses at DTC depot, ISBT, and Cluster Bus .

Ayushman Bharat: CM Rekha Gupta calls for implementation of scheme in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday discussed the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the national capital with BJP MLAs and party leaders, and said that no time should be wasted in delivering its benefits to eligible people. Gupta said that she has directed all MLAs to help eligible residents in their constituencies get their health cards made. We conducted the meeting to ensure that Ayushman Bharat cards for all Delhi residents are made at the earliest, she said. The chief minister also said that work has begun to identify locations for setting up 'Arogya Mandirs' across the city. We have set a target to identify 1,139 locations. The Delhi government will start working on this from today itself, she told reporters after the meeting. Gupta said that Ayushman Bharat, which has finally been extended to Delhi after a long wait, must now reach the citizens without any further delay. "The meeting today was to assign specific responsibilities to all MLAs to help

CM Rekha Gupta warns Delhi's private schools against arbitrary fee hikes

The CM stated that immediate action has been directed, with officials instructed to investigate and take strict measures

Delhi govt approves 3-month extension of EV policy, continues power subsidy

The Delhi government on Tuesday approved extension of its Electric Vehicle (EV) policy by three months and continuation of power subsidy in the national capital. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also approved the continuation of the existing power subsidy for four categories: domestic consumers, farmers, lawyers with chambers, and victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. At a press conference held at Delhi Secretariat later, Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said there will be no ban on autos or any other category of vehicles. Speaking to PTI, he said, "There are many things the government wants to do for its residents, and we will incorporate those in the revised EV policy. However, I want to make it clear that there will be no ban on autos, nor is there any proposal to ban any category of vehicles. The current EV policy is expected to continue for approximately the next three to four months. Home Minister Ashish Sood addressed the misinformation circulating abo

Delhi CM issues notices to schools over arbitrary fee hikes and expulsions

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said notices have been issued to schools against which complaints of arbitrary fee hikes have been received. These schools have been asked to respond, failing which strict action will be taken against them, the chief minister told PTI. Addressing a 'Jan Samvad' (public meeting), the chief minister received a complaint about a private school in Model Town allegedly increasing fees and expelling students. Sharing the incident in a post on X, Gupta said, "Today, a case related to Queen Mary's School in Model Town came up, where parents complained about unjust fee collection and the expulsion of students." The matter has been taken seriously and officials have been directed to carry out an immediate investigation and take necessary action, she said. "No school has the right to harass parents over fees or remove students unfairly," she said, adding that all schools are expected to follow set rules and regulations, and any violation will resul

Ambedkar Jayanti: Delhi CM announces 15-day education drive in schools

She further informed that as part of the initiative, students will also be taken to visit key landmarks associated with Dr. Ambedkar

BJP govt in Delhi insulted Ambedkar's legacy, failed Dalit students: AAP

AAP's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday accused the BJP-led Delhi government of showing "utter disregard" for the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar and failing to deliver on key promises made to Dalit students. Bharadwaj alleged the BJP government had removed portraits of Ambedkar from prominent spots in government offices -- a practice that was institutionalised during the AAP government under former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, an official statement of AAP said. There was no immediate response available from the BJP on AAP's charges. Bharadwaj said, "Earlier, it was mandatory for all government offices, including those of ministers and the chief minister -- to have a portrait of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the background. This ensured his constant presence in official photographs. Now, these portraits have been relegated to obscure corners, which is deeply disrespectful," Bharadwaj said. He further accused the BJP of failing to fulfil multiple promises made to Scheduled Caste (SC)

Highlights: 9 held after stone-pelting during Hanuman Jayanti procession in MP's Guna

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Atishi alleges CM Rekha Gupta's husband running govt affairs, shares photo

A fresh political row erupted in the national capital on Saturday after the Leader of Opposition Atishi alleged the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's husband in an official meeting involving senior officers MCD, DJB, PWD, and DUSIB. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva in response accused Atishi of making an "insulting" remark. In his post on X, Sachdeva defended Rekha Gupta, saying she had risen through the ranks with "hard work and determination" and that it was "perfectly normal" for family members to support public representatives. Sharing a photo on X, Atishi alleged that the Delhi government was being run by the chief minister's husband, comparing the situation to what is often seen in villages. "Look at this photo carefully. The person who is taking the meeting of the officers of MCD, DJB, PWD and DUSIB is the husband of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta," Atishi said in her post. "Earlier we used to hear that if a woman Sarpanch was elected in the village, the

Delhi CM directs formation of monitoring cell for updates on infra work

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta issued several directives including one for formation of a monitoring cell for regular updates on ongoing infrastructure work in the city, officials said on Saturday. In a recent meeting with top officers and heads of government departments, she also asked for weekly reports from them on various schemes, projects and programmes, they said. The chief minister sought cooperation and support from the officers in ensuring that the government achieves its targets as people have "high hopes" from it. She expressed confidence that the bureaucracy will meet her expectations in working for the people, said a senior government officer. Gupta directed Chief Secretary Dharmendra to set up a monitoring cell under him to strengthen supervison of infrastructure projects and furnish regular updates to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), said the officer. The BJP government in its first budget worth Rs one lakh crore for financial year 2025-26, tabled in the Assembly

Govt to start Atal canteens near slums, construction sites: Delhi CM

Asserting it is her regime's duty to ensure that no one remained hungry in the city, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said the government is planning to open 100 Atal canteens near slum clusters and construction sites. Paying obeisance to Lord Hanuman at a temple in her Shalimarbagh constituency on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, she inaugurated an automatic chapati maker that can roll out 1200 "rotis" (bread) in an hour. "We have to open 100 Atal canteens so that no one remained hungry in Delhi. We are planning to start these canteens near slums and construction sites where such automatic machines are installed to provide food," she said. The chief minister had earlier in March presented Delhi's budget for 2025-26, setting aside Rs 100 crore for opening Atal canteens in the city to provide food to the poor and needy at nominal charges. Atal canteens named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee are run in various other BJP ruled states also. Gupta said the .

Delhi govt may offer up to Rs 36,000 EV subsidy to women under new policy

The Delhi government is likely to provide a subsidy of up to Rs 36,000 on purchase of an electric two-wheeler to women under its proposed Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2.0, officials on Friday said. The benefit can be availed by the first 10,000 women, who are holding a driving license, according to the policy draft accessed by PTI. The proposal is under the government's consideration and it will be approved soon. To encourage female participation in the EV shift, the women in Delhi will receive a purchase incentive of Rs 12,000 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up to Rs 36,000 on electric two-wheelers. Designed to complement the Centre's PM E-DRIVE scheme, the EV Policy 2.0 aims to accelerate electric vehicle adoption across Delhi. The scheme, which will remain valid until March 31, 2030, outlines a series of incentives targeting not just electric two-wheelers but also three-wheelers and commercial vehicles. To boost the adoption of electric two-wheelers in the city, the government may of

PM Modi lauds Delhi's joining of Centre's health schemes as 'revolutionary'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the implementation of twin central government health schemes, including an insurance cover programme, in Delhi as a revolutionary step in the national capital. "This mission of the double engine government is going to be very beneficial for lakhs of brothers and sisters in Delhi. I am delighted that people of Delhi, too, can now received treatment under the Ayushman scheme," he said on X. After signing a Memorandum of Understanding on April 5 to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the BJP government in Delhi signed another MoU with the Centre on Thursday for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). PM-ABHIM was launched in October 2021 to ensure that the public health infrastructure effectively manages future pandemics and outbreaks of diseases. The previous AAP dispensation had declined to adopt the schemes. Union Health Minister J P Nadda