Page 4 - Rekha Gupta

Delhi CM Gupta meets children in the rain after maiden I-Day address

The rain at the Chhatrasal Stadium was relentless all morning on Friday, where Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta gave her maiden Independence Day speech; however, she took it in her stride, and post her address, met schoolchildren in the downpour, even waving away an umbrella offered by her security staff. Drenched but smiling, Gupta clicked photographs with the children and shook hands with parade participants and security personnel. "Everything is moving in the right direction with transparency and dedication. I have much more to share with you, but I can see the rain is getting heavier, and my young children are still seated bravely in it," she said. The chief minister also asked the crowd to applaud themselves and the parade participants for not taking cover during the event despite the heavy rain. The ceremony unfolded under heavy showers that tested the endurance of participants and spectators. A few members of the marching contingents lost consciousness after the parade and h

Delhi CM vows Yamuna revival, world-class infra in maiden I-Day speech

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in her maiden Independence Day speech on Friday, pledged to rejuvenate the Yamuna and assured people that her government would develop world-class infrastructure. During the event at the Chhatrasal Stadium amid a heavy downpour, she announced that her government would form a welfare board for gig workers to ensure their wellbeing. She stressed that her government was working to address the issue of waterlogging and better roads. "I pledge to rejuvenate the Yamuna. Our government is working from day one to clean it. Several promises were made to clean the Yamuna, but little was achieved. Yamuna will be clean to an extent that we will be able to see the Sun's reflection in its waters, and we will be able to perform veneration on its banks," the chief minister added. Assuring people that Delhi would soon be the city of dreams, she said the BJP government was committed to providing Delhi with an infrastructure that is the best in the country. Highligh

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta flags off Tiranga cyclothon ahead of Independence Day

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the importance of Tiranga as a unifying force which reminds about the those who laid down their lives for the sake of the country

Private school fee Bill to improve transparency, accountability: Delhi CM

Delhi government is committed to ensuring quality education for every child in the national capital, and the recently-passed Bill to regulate fees in private schools will bring greater transparency and accountability in the institutions, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference, Gupta said the Delhi School Education (Fee Determination and Transparency in Regulation) Bill, 2025, which was passed in Delhi Assembly on Friday, seeks to prevent arbitrary fee hikes and make private schools accessible to children from all sections of society, including those from underprivileged backgrounds. "There are 1,733 private schools in Delhi, nearly 300 of which were given land at concessional rates by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA)," Gupta said. "Under the new law, the director of education will have powers equivalent to those of a sub-divisional magistrate to take action against schools violating norms, including freezing bank accounts and attaching ...

Delhi govt abolishes NOC, land status report requirements in most cases

The Delhi government has abolished the mandatory requirements for no objection certificate (NOC) and land status report (LSR) for most land registration cases, officials said on Thursday. The move is aimed at enhancing ease of living and ease of doing business, officials said. Under the new system, NOCs and LSRs will now be required only in specific cases governed by legal provisions -- namely Section 8 of the Delhi Lands (Restrictions on Transfer) Act, 1972, and Section 30 of the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948, an official statement said. In all other instances, permissions from the revenue department will no longer be necessary. Sub-registrars will register documents strictly in accordance with the Indian Registration Act, 1908, only on legally prescribed grounds, the statement said. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government has been working consistently over the past five months to simplify governance and improve service deliv

Leaders like Trump will get befitting reply when India rises: Delhi CM

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said the leaders like US President Donald Trump will get a befitting reply when India becomes the world's third-largest economy. The chief minister asserted the nation is no longer dependent on the United States for exports and global recognition. "The whole world is standing with open arms to do business with India. People like Trump will get a befitting reply when we develop and rise," said Gupta addressing the silver jubilee celebration of the Patparganj CPE Study Circle. "If we all work together then it will not take time to become the third-largest largest economy from fourth number. Our exports are not dependent on America," she added. Underlining the importance of self-reliance, Gupta said, "We must become self-dependent so that whatever we consume benefits our own people." The chief minister also highlighted the role of chartered accountants (CAs) and called them the government's "army". "All the 30,000 CAs in Delhi are my army

Delhi Assembly session to begin from August 4, education bill on agenda

CM Rekha Gupta also announced that the Assembly would adopt the e-Vidhan Sabha model for the first time, marking a shift to paperless proceedings

Delhi CM launches month-long cleanliness drive 'Dilli ko kude se azaadi'

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday wielded a broom to kick off the Delhi government's month-long cleanliness drive 'Dilli Ko Kude Se Azaadi'. As part of the campaign she visited the Women and Child Development department. "I am coming to this office for the first time. It is saddening to see that our officers work in this kind of a building. The fans can fall off any moment and the roof is leaking," she rued as she inspected the department's office at Kashmiri Gate. CM Gupta visited every nook and corner of the office, cleared e-waste, threw away old posters and files and swept the dirty area using a broom. "There was a fire at this building in 2021 yet no repairs were carried out," she added. Hitting out at the previous AAP government in Delhi, she said they "spent crores of rupees on building Sheesh Mahal" but did not do anything to improve the condition of government offices. "Today, looking at the condition of this office, I am saddened. From today itself, we will begin the

MLAs can now use funds to carry out development works through MCD: CM Gupta

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday said the MLAs can now use their funds to carry out development works through the MCD as against the earlier norms when such projects could only be executed through the Irrigation and Flood Control Department or the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC). The chief minister said this often caused delays in completing smaller projects, as these departments prioritised larger works. With this change, minor development works will now be handled more swiftly by the Municipal Corporation, she added. The chief minister has introduced key reforms to fast-track development projects, enhance transparency and eliminate financial hurdles, and taken crucial decisions in construction-related procedures, said an official statement. Gupta said these decisions will ensure rapid execution of development works, ease the burden on implementing agencies and provide financial relief to construction companies, steering the capital

Centre sanctions ₹821 crore as special assistance to Delhi: CM Gupta

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday said the Central government has sanctioned Rs 821.26 crore as special assistance to accelerate the transformation of the national capital into a "developed Delhi". The chief minister said that 66 per cent of the sanctioned amount has been released as the first instalment, enabling immediate commencement of key projects. The funds will be utilised for critical public service sectors, including health, education, housing, drinking water, electricity and transport. Gupta said the Union Finance Ministry has approved the allocation under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 202526. Of the total amount, Rs 716 crore under Part-I has been earmarked for 33 major infrastructure projects, while an additional Rs 105.26 crore under Part-III has been sanctioned for the Priority Corridor of MRTS Phase-IV, an official statement said. Expressing her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Sha

Delhi govt approves night shifts for women, shops must follow safety rules

The Delhi government has approved night shifts for women in shops and commercial places. Employers must ensure consent, safe transport, CCTV, female security staff, and other mandatory safety measures

Delhi govt to launch month-long cleanliness campaign in August: CM Gupta

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced that the government will launch a month-long campaign, "Delhi's Freedom from Garbage Cleanliness Drive," from August 1 to mark India's Independence anniversary. The special drive will run from August 1 to 31, according to a statement. Gupta announced that on July 29, a major meeting would be held at the Civic Centre, where ministers, MPs, councillors and association representatives would finalise responsibilities to ensure the smooth execution of the campaign. She appealed to the citizens of Delhi to actively participate and help make the city clean and hygienic. To ensure the campaign is carried out effectively, all departments of the Delhi Government will contribute. The drive will also involve Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), market associations, school and college students, and other institutions, said an official statement. To encourage public participation, a dedicated online portal will be launched, the statement said. At a

Delhi may teach non-Hindi languages to children, says CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta proposed the launch of a student exchange programme with students from other states to foster mutual understanding and harmony, officials said on Sunday. This initiative was discussed during a recent meeting with the Department of Art, Culture, and Languages, an official statement said. The chief minister noted that efforts will be made to explore possibilities for teaching non-Hindi languages to children in Delhi, enabling them to understand the social and cultural identities of other states, the statement added. The exchange would give children the opportunity to learn about different cultures and lifestyles, and help foster mutual understanding and harmony, Gupta said, adding that such an initiative would significantly strengthen the nation's unity in diversity. Emphasising the importance of promoting and expanding the art and culture of various states across the national capital, the chief minister noted that the Department of Art, Culture and .

25-minute Delhi-Gurugram commute? Centre mulls direct express corridor

The Centre is exploring new express corridors to cut travel time between Delhi and Gurugram to 25 minutes and ease traffic across NH-48, Ring Road, and key city routes

Delhi to receive Rs 600 cr Central funds under special assistance scheme

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the funds will be used to accelerate development projects across the city

Delhi women to get free bus travel via smart cards soon: CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced that her government would soon provide free bus travel cards to all women of the city with an aim to empower them with mobility. Saheli Smart Card, a personalised travel pass carrying the holder's name and photo, will facilitate free rides to women and transgender residents of Delhi aged 12 and above on all DTC and Cluster buses. Laying the foundation stone for a fully automated vehicle testing station (ATS) at the DTC's Nand Nagri Depot, the chief minister said, "This is a symbol of a safer, more transparent, and women-friendly Delhi." "Along with technological upgrades like the ATS, we are also focused on empowering women with mobility. Soon, every woman in Delhi will have access to free bus travel through smart travel cards," she said. The new testing facility, to be developed at a cost of Rs 10 crore, is aimed at enhancing road safety, transparency, and pollution control. Once commissioned, it is expected to digitally test

Delhi seeks ₹1,500 cr from Centre to revamp roads, decongest key corridors

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta seeks ₹1,500 crore from Centre under CRIF to improve 600 km of roads, ease congestion on 12 key corridors, and reduce dust pollution across the national capital

Delhi CM launches pilot project to shift overhead power cables underground

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday launched a pilot project to remove the overhead power lines and shift them underground at BH Block, Janta Flats Colony, in her Shalimar Bagh constituency. The project, with an outlay of Rs 8 crore, is expected to be completed in three months. Launching the product, Gupta said that it will change the face of the densely packed colony by freeing it from the web of overhead wires. The project will also ensure safe and uninterrupted electricity supply in all weather conditions, Power Minister Ashish Sood concurred. In the budget 2025-26, Gupta, who also helms the finance department, had announced that Rs 100 crore will be allocated to shift the overhead power cables in the city underground. According to Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited chief executive officer D Basak, nearly 10 kilometres of power lines will be laid underground.

Delhi CM gives ₹5 lakh each to shop owners affected by Dilli Haat fire

The blaze on the evening of April 30 gutted 24 artisan stalls, leaving several craftsmen without a source of livelihood, no casualties or injuries were reported

'There was no waterlogging': CM Rekha Gupta after heavy rains in Delhi-NCR

Meanwhile, Delhi experienced incessant rainfall since Wednesday, causing waterlogging in several areas, including Bindapur in Uttam Nagar, where roads are submerged under water