Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Source: Punjab Kesari
Editorial

Delhi Budget 2025-26: A Roadmap for Delhi's Development

Delhi Budget 2025-26: A vision for a clean, green, and world-class capital

Rekha Gupta

Delhi is not just a metropolis, it is the soul of the country. It is the centre of the country's administrative, cultural and economic power. Being the capital of the country, every countryman has been looking at it with great expectations, but the previous governments did not do justice to this capital.

Therefore, the burden of population on the city has increased, but the apathy of the previous governments to increase the facilities in proportion has also made this city the center of problems. The air is becoming poisonous, the Yamuna has become dirty, the overflowing sewers, the broken roads, the long traffic jams on them... There are so many problems, there are a lot of difficulties everywhere.

In the last one-and-a-half decades, the government in this city has consistently ignored the essential basic amenities in every sphere of life, but now luckily this metropolis has got an opportunity to develop with the vision of a superhero in the form of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. That is why, taking this opportunity, my Government has prepared the Delhi Budget 2025-26 not merely as an Annual Economic Plan, but as a visionary roadmap for the reconstruction of this city. This historic budget of Rs 1 lakh crore, which is 31.58 percent more than the previous budget, presents the resolve to realize our "Delhi of intentions, not of promises". The objective of this budget is to create a clean, green and well-organized capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that for a better tomorrow, we should invest in strong infrastructure today. For the first time in this budget, the Delhi government has doubled its capital expenditure to Rs 28,115.48 crore. By spending this huge expenditure, the government will give Delhi smart infra, smooth roads and seamless connectivity so that the lives of common people will be better and convenient and Delhi will be made a world-class capital. In addition to this goal, the priorities of this budget include the Rejuvenation Mission of Yamuna, the lifeline of Delhi. In order to clean the life-giving mother Yamuna and to save Delhi from the water crisis, my Government has made an unprecedented budget provision of Rs. 9000 crore so that a concrete plan is implemented to clean the river Yamuna and to beautify its banks.

For this, 40 new decentralized sewage treatment plants will be set up so that dirty water does not go directly into Yamuna. Arrangements will be made to tap the drains so that the flow of untreated water can be stopped. Old plants that have fallen into disrepair will be modernized and trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and drain utility technology will be used. Over the years, the problems of floods and waterlogging in the capital have taken a formidable form. Unfortunately, we had also seen pictures of this city being submerged in floods, but the new government of Delhi is committed to a permanent solution to this problem. We have already started a campaign of de-silting of drains by fixing the full responsibility of officials and contractors under strict supervision so that the problem of waterlogging in the rainy season can be eliminated. Further, the old sewer lines will be renovated by our government, super suckers and jetting machines will be procured so that the cleaning work is effective.

Apart from this, a plan has been prepared to promote rainwater harvesting so that the problem of water crisis is also solved and water is not wasted. Education and health are the cornerstones of any society. Therefore, our government has given priority to these two areas. For health, as per our election promise, in the very first cabinet meeting, we approved to give the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Yojana to the people of Delhi. With this decision, the people of Delhi will also be able to get the best health facilities in the form of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Arogya Mandir, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission. I am very happy to inform that the people of Delhi are getting health insurance of Rs 5 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, for which the government will spend Rs 2144 crore.

Apart from this, 400 new Health and Wellness Centers and 16,186 new hospital beds will be arranged to improve health facilities. Digital health system will be expanded so that health services will be more accessible. Similarly, 60 new CM Shri Schools and 175 smart classrooms will be constructed for the development of education. Free laptops will be given to 1200 meritorious students. Free coaching will be provided for examinations like JEE, NEET, CLAT. Efforts are also in full swing to implement the science stream in Delhi schools. Under the 'foundation program' to empower the youth, they will be taught entrepreneurship and digital skills. A budget of Rs 618 crore has been set for developing and upgrading ITIs and polytechnic colleges. Similarly, Rs 230 crore has been allocated for Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University.

New electric buses will be added to DTC to improve the transport system of the capital and promote a green transport system. As many as 11 new startup incubation centres will be set up and a new industrial policy will be implemented to make Delhi a hub of business and innovation. As many as 50,000 additional CCTV cameras will be installed for women's safety. Special women protection center and helpline number will be expanded. Safe bathrooms will be built for women in slums. For Delhiites, Delhi is not just a name for buildings, roads and bridges, it is the capital of dreams that grow up every morning with new enthusiasm in the eyes of its people. Now the time has come for Delhi to scale new heights under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister.

If Delhi grows, India will also move forward. A developed Delhi will work to strengthen the foundation of a developed India. The Delhi Budget 2025-26 will not only lay the foundation for a better present but also for their bright future. Priority has been given to all the important sectors like electricity, water, roads, sewers, sanitation, transport as well as education, health, employment and environment. After this budget, the biggest concern of the journalists I have met is that such a big budget can be spent. While answering this question, I want to assure Delhi again that as the Chief Minister, I have an example of an able leadership like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during whose tenure the schemes are built with the foundation stone laying and the framework of inauguration and are implemented on the ground. Every scheme of this budget and its entire budget will be spent with full responsibility. With the resolve that if Delhi grows, India will also move forward. A developed Delhi will work to strengthen the foundation of a developed India.