THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI
Respected Speaker and Hon’ble Members,
It gives me immense pleasure in welcoming each one of you to the Fifth Session (Budget Session) of the Seventh Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
I am presenting a brief overview of some of the policies being implemented to empower the citizens of Delhi in pursuing their goals and aspirations alongwith some of the initiatives and achievements of the Government.
My Government is working with dedication and sincerity to match the immense faith placed in it by the people and to transform Delhi to a world class city. As its commitment to the people, my Government is making all out efforts in every field of development.
Delhi, being a capital city, has achieved remarkable milestones across various socio-economic sectors.
The growth matrices of the important sectors of the economy have been quite satisfactory during the recent past. Delhi has robust economic fundamentals. The economy of Delhi witnessed real GSDP expansion of 9.18% in 2022-23 as compared to a growth of 7.2% in GDP at national level. Per Capita Income of Delhi has been around 2.6 times higher when compared to national average and the revenue is consistently surplus. Out of the budget of Rs.78,800 Crore of 2023-24, an amount of Rs.43,700 Crore has been allocated for implementation of various developmental schemes, programmes and capital projects. The share of the Services Sector in Delhi’s economy is about 85% which also shows the inherent strengths of the economy.
Education is the most powerful tool which we can use to improve the world. My Government is keen to enhance the quality of education, improve infrastructure and introduce new technologies in the academic curriculum. 21% budgetary allocation for the Education Sector in the current F.Y. is the highest among all the states and UTs in India. The Gross Enrolment Ratio at all level of education in Delhi is also higher than all India level. Due to focused attention on improving the quality of education there has been incredible rise in pass percentages in government schools. Pass percentage for the academic session 2022-2023 for class X and XII was 99.68 and 98.96.15 new Government Schools have been opened in the Academic Session 2023-24 and science stream has been introduced in 19 schools. New initiatives like Misson Chunauti, Misson Buniyad, Happiness Curriculum etc. are making a real impact on students. With the introduction of Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum (EMC) the Delhi Government Schools helps students to take charge of their career paths and explore their potential to the fullest. To promote inclusive education, during 2022-23, Home Based Education was provided to 359 out of school children with disabilities.
To promote sports, academic and research in various aspects of sports and the allied disciplines like health and exercise sciences, Delhi Sports University has commenced functioning. The long-term investment made by My Government in sports infrastructure has yielded results. I feel proud to inform this august house that 11 players from Delhi won 11 medals in the Asian Games 2023 held at Hangzhou, China. In National School Games 2023-24, Delhi stood first in medal tally with 127 medals.
The focus of the Government is also on entrepreneurship development so that people are equipped with the required skill and knowledge needed for starting an enterprise. In the field of technical education, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University has introduced new courses of emerging areas, aligned to skill development. In order to upgrade and update the skill of the trainees & trainers with modern technologies as per industry requirements, Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) have been signed with leading industries like Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, NBCC, Siemens etc.
Health for all is not only a desirable goal but also an essential investment in human resources. With approximately 12% of the budget allocated to public health, Health remains a primary focus of the Government.
To deliver preventive, promotive, and curative healthcare services, a network of 537 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics, 5 Mahila Mohalla Clinics, 172 allopathic dispensaries, 60 Primary Urban Health Centres, 30 Polyclinics, and 38 Multi-Specialty/Super Specialty Hospitals are operational. With a combined capacity of 14,244 beds, these facilities cater to over 4 Crore patients annually. Over 250 diagnostic tests and 165 essential medicines are available free of cost, benefiting the community. Furthermore, more than 5 Lakh citizens have availed themselves of free treatment, surgery, and diagnostic services through identified private hospitals under the 'Delhi Arogya Kosh' scheme.
To enhance bed capacity, construction of new hospitals and re-modelling of 19 existing hospitals and 94 dispensaries are expected to be completed by this year. Proposals for 05 new hospitals at Bindapur, Baprola, Deendarpur, Keshavpuram and Sangam Vihar are also underway. More than 12000 beds will be added after completion of new hospitals and re-modelling of the hospitals.
All essential drugs are being provided free of cost to patients attending public health centres of Delhi Government. Under ‘Delhi Arogya Kosh’ free treatment, surgery and diagnostic services are provided through identified private hospitals to the patients who cannot be provided treatment at Delhi government hospitals due to any reasons.
Health knowledge and services are also being provided to school children in Delhi at 42 Centres. It gives me immense pleasure to share with you that Infant Mortality Rate has shown 63% decline from 2010 to 2020.
Through its various social sector schemes, my Government is working tirelessly for the social and economic welfare of senior citizens, women in distress, poor widows, differently-abled and disadvantaged sections. Pensions ranging from ₹ 2,000 to ₹ 2,500 per month is being given to around 9 lakh beneficiaries. 08 scholarship schemes are being implemented for welfare of SC/ST/OBC communities. More than 72 Lakhs beneficiaries have been provided subsidised rations through Fair Price Shops. Delhi also has the highest number of One Nation One Ration Card beneficiaries. Minimum wage in Delhi is the highest among all the states and union territories in the country. Through its 17 welfare schemes the Government is also working for the welfare of the Construction workers. Construction of old age homes, special camps for Persons with disabilities, financial assistance to persons with special needs etc. are other initiatives of the Government. ‘Suryodaya’ scheme has been conceived as a holistic wellness programme for rehabilitation of youth affected by drug and substance abuse. Juvenile Justice Board Complexes are being constructed at various places for a conducive environment for the administration of Juvenile Justice.
These initiatives underscore the government's commitment to ensuring the welfare and inclusive development of various segments of the population, contributing to a more equitable and empowered society.
As part of improvement of city infrastructure; construction of various projects related to underpasses, flyovers, subways etc. have been completed. Construction of underpass at Ashram Chowk, tunnel from Purana Qila Road to Ring Road along with 06 underpasses on Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg and Ring Road have been constructed. Construction of bridge on Najafgarh drain at Basaidarapur, Delhi has been completed. Elevated Road of Barapullah Phase-III from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar and extension of Ashram Flyover to DND Flyover is near completion. The work of Synthetic Athletic Track in Sports Complex at Village Kair and at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Prahladpur, Delhi and the work of Synthetic Hockey Court at Vivekananda College, Vivek Vihar and Girls Hostel and Boys Hostel for Foreign Students and Engineering Office Block in NSUT Campus is complete. The District Court building is being constructed in Rohini at an estimated cost of Rs 715 crore. To improve security scenario 1,35,500 CCTV cameras have been installed in RWAs/MAs throughout Delhi.
The installed capacity of drinking water has been augmented by 13% during last 10 years. The capacity of Delhi Jal Board was 836 MGD in 2013, which has been increased to 995 in 2023. About 93% households of Delhi now have access to piped water supply .Water is supplied through existing water supply network comprising of 15,440 kms long pipelines and more than 117 underground reservoirs. At present Delhi has installed treatment capacity of 632 MGD. 82% households are connected to sewerage network and to cover the balance area, Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plants are being constructed. Water production during summer season is being maintained at 956 MGD per day consistently. Free water up-to 20 kilolitres per month is being provided to consumers.
To meet the ever-increasing demand, sources outside Delhi are being prioritised and cooperation with other State Governments are being taken like Renuka Dam in Himachal Pradesh, Kishau Dam and Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam in Uttarakhand. Internal sources are also being augmented like getting underground-water from Yamuna flood plains by way of recharging the ponds, rejuvenation of Water Bodies, recycling of water, water harvesting, plugging leakages of water, reducing non-revenue water through proper water accounting, installation of bulk meters etc. The work of creation of waterbody at Timarpur oxidation pond, Dwarka, Pappankala, Rohini, Nilothi, revival of Roshanara Lake is being taken up.
The peak demand increased to 7438 MW in 2023 and was successfully met with zero load shedding. Electricity rates have not been increased in the last 8 years and the tariff remains the lowest among all the neighbouring states. As regard Green Energy is concerned, Delhi has the highest rooftop solar capacity (250 MW) among all UTs. The government has also implemented a new solar policy which aims at reducing electricity rates and pollution control along with employment generation. To promote green and clean transportation, 1900 electric vehicle charging stations are in operation. To dispose Municipal Solid Waste ‘Waste-to-Energy’ Plants of about 50 MW are being set-up at Tehkhand, Bhalswa and Ghazipur.
As the capital city, Delhi has undergone a modernization of its public transport system, with over 7100 buses servicing 500 routes. Out of these 1650 are electric buses. The existing Delhi Metro network spans about 400 kilometres, offering seamless connectivity to the outskirts of the city. Regional Transport Offices now provide public services in a faceless manner, eliminating the need for physical visits, and 45 transport services are accessible online for residents.
Delhi has pioneered free travel for women in government buses, surpassing 100 Crore free trips. Enhancing traveller convenience, the "One Delhi App" has been introduced, offering features such as bus tracking, waiting time information, and discounted contactless tickets. To address the mobility demand and for unlocking economic potential of the National Capital Region, 03 Regional Rapid Transit System projects have been prioritized viz. Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Alwar and Delhi Panipat. Once completed RRTS will become the most energy efficient public transit system.
Economic growth and sustainable development are fundamental aspects of our vision. My Government is embracing green technologies, investing in renewable energy sources, and implementing policies that reduce our carbon footprint.
We are actively undertaking extensive efforts to address air and water pollution. To monitor air quality, we have established Real Time Air Quality Monitoring Stations at 40 locations across Delhi. Deploying Mechanical Road Sweepers, Water Sprinklers, and Anti-smog Guns throughout the city plays a crucial role in mitigating dust resuspension. City annual average of PM10 has come down consistently from 324 ppm in 2014 to 219 ppm in 2023, while PM 2.5 has come down from 149 ppm in 2014 to 106 ppm in 2023.The number of ‘Good Days’ have increased from 157 in 2018 to 206 in 2023. 1866 industries have been converted to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and 150 are in process of conversion.
In our commitment to safeguard the Yamuna River, we have implemented 13 Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and 35 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to monitor pollutant load, sewage, and industrial effluents. The Interceptor Sewer Project has covered 22 major drains that discharge into the Yamuna River, effectively trapping and treating the flow of sub-drains within their command areas. Additionally, 78% of unauthorized colonies are now connected to the sewerage system.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi has also undertaken various initiatives to make Delhi a clean, green, garbage-free and pollution-free city along with providing best civic amenities to the citizens.
Our green cover has witnessed substantial growth, now spanning 342 square kilometres, which accounts for 23.06% of Delhi's geographic area.
These initiatives reflect our dedicated efforts to promote sustainable practices, protect the environment, and enhance the overall quality of life in our city.
Delhi, being the capital of India is one of the key arrival destinations for both foreign and domestic tourists. The capital boasts of some great heritage sites. To showcase this capital city as a tourist and cultural friendly destination not only for foreign tourists but also for domestic travellers, Delhi Tourism has been actively organizing cultural events in Delhi. Delhi Film Policy - 2022 has been launched to brand national and international profile of Delhi through films. A one-stop-shop for all tourism related information ‘Dekho Meri Dilli’ mobile app has been launched. Delhi has wonderfully hosted the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit last year which was the first time India hosted the Summit.
The development process in Delhi is proceeding in the right direction at the desired pace. People’s participation has provided a powerful dimension to this. Delhi being a National Capital attends to people from all parts of the country and from all walks of life, coming to work and making Delhi their home. My Government seeks to fulfil their aspirations, through sincere responsiveness & efforts.
Hon’ble Speaker and Members of this august house, I have broadly outlined the important policies and programmes of my government. I have also included new thrust areas identified for implementation. The Finance Minister will spell out the details in her Budget speech. I am confident that with the support and collaboration of the members of this esteemed House, we will overcome upcoming challenges and propel Delhi towards becoming a modern, progressive, and globally recognized city.
I extend my best wishes for fruitful deliberations, hoping that they yield innovative ideas towards realizing our vision of transforming Delhi into a world-class city.
Jai Hind!
Jai Bharat!