THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI

• Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh Ji,

• Founder President, IAFA, Ambassador Surendra Kumar Ji (Retd.),

• Secretary General, IAFA, Ambassador Ajit Kumar Bhaiya,

• Founder Member, IAFA, Mr. Subodh Kumar Jain,

• Distinguished members & Guests,

Delhi is a city, that has always evolved, with the times. It is a city, shaped by centuries of history, and heritage, but also, by enterprise, migration, innovation and ambition.

Today, Delhi stands, at an important point, in its journey. As the national capital, and one of India’s largest urban centres, our responsibility is, not only to manage the city, as it exists today, but to prepare it, for the needs and, aspirations, of the generations, that will inherit it.

The idea of a future-ready Delhi, must therefore, begin with inclusion. The progress of a city, is meaningful only, when its benefits, reach every section of society. This means ensuring access, to quality education, healthcare, housing, public transport and opportunities for employment, and entrepreneurship.

It also means, creating a city, where women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and economically vulnerable communities, can participate fully in urban life. A modern city, must be measured, not simply by its infrastructure, but by the opportunities, it creates for its people.

The second pillar must be, sustainability. Delhi’s growth, cannot come at the cost, of its environment. Air quality, water security, waste management, green spaces and sustainable mobility, are not separate environmental concerns; they are directly connected, to the quality of life, of every citizen.

This vision of sustainable growth, also finds reso-nance, in the Sapt Dhara concept, articulated by Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, with its emphasis, on areas such as the Green Economy, Blue Economy, and Technology and Innovation. For Delhi, this means continuing to invest, in cleaner mobility, renewable energy, efficient waste management, water conser-vation and greener urban spaces.

A sustainable Delhi, is not only, an environmental objective; it is an investment, in the health, and well-being, of future generations.

The third pillar is, technology and innovation. We are entering an era, in which artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and data-driven governance, can fundamentally change, how cities function. Delhi has the opportunity, to use technology, to make public services, more accessible, improve mobility, strengthen civic infrastructure, and make governance, more responsive.

But technology, must remain a means, to serve citizens, not an end in itself. A future-ready city, must combine, innovation with accountability, privacy, accessibility, and public trust.

There is also a larger economic dimension, to Delhi’s future. The city must continue, to be a centre of enterprise, investment, knowledge, and employment. This requires an ecosystem, in which businesses, can grow, entrepreneurs can innovate, young people can find opportunities, and global institutions, can see Delhi, as a city of confidence, and possibility.

The vision of Master Plan of Delhi – 2047, provides an opportunity, to strengthen Delhi’s position, as a centre of education, knowledge and innovation. The Education Hub, can contribute to this vision, by expanding opportunities, in higher education, and skills, and creating pathways, to employment and entrepreneurship, for our youth.

India’s progress in employment, also presents, an encouraging picture. The youth employment rate, has increased significantly, while youth unemployment, has declined, in recent years. This makes it important, to further strengthen, the link between education, skills and opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and income generation for our youth.

Ease of doing business, skilled human capital, modern infrastructure, and strong connectivity, will remain important, to this journey.

At the same time, we must remember, that Delhi’s greatest asset, is not its buildings, roads or technology. It is its people. The city has always been, strengthened by people, who have come here, with aspirations, and contributed to its growth.  I am, like many of you are such, an example.

Our task is to create, an environment, in which every citizen, has the opportunity, to contribute to, and benefit from, Delhi’s progress.

An inclusive, sustainable and future-ready Delhi, will not be built by the government alone. It requires partnership, between government, citizens, business, academic institutions, civil society and communities.

It requires citizens, to participate in keeping, their neighbourhoods clean, conserving resources, and respecting public spaces, just as it requires, institutions to provide, efficient and accountable governance.

As we look towards, the coming decades, our vision should be clear: a Delhi that is, economically vibrant, environmentally responsible, technology advanced, and socially inclusive; a Delhi, that preserves its heritage, while embracing the future; and above all, a Delhi, that provides, a better quality of life, and greater opportunities, for every citizen.

Thank you.

Jai Hind.