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Delhi govt hikes transport dept budget by 60% to Rs 9,110 crore

New Delhi, The Delhi government has increased the transport department's budget by nearly 60 per cent in 2025-26 to Rs 9,110 crore, with a major push for Delhi Metro expansion to curb air pollution, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Sunday. She said adequate provisions have been made for Metro expansion so that ongoing projects proceed without hindrance and added that the government is also clearing pending liabilities related to Metro projects left unpaid by previous governments. The chief minister said effective control of pollution in Delhi-NCR requires a strong public transport system with seamless last-mile connectivity. Citing data from the Centre for Science and Environment and other institutions, Gupta said vehicular emissions are a major contributor to pollution in Delhi-NCR and strengthening public transport is essential to reduce dependence on private vehicles.

Delhi govt hikes Transport dept budget by 60% to Rs 9,110 crore

New Delhi: As toxic air continues to choke the national capital, the Delhi Government has placed a decisive bet on public transport, especially the Delhi Metro, to curb vehicular pollution and move closer to a zero-emission future. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said strengthening public transport is central to tackling Delhi’s worsening air quality crisis. “The effective control of pollution in Delhi and NCR is not possible without a strong public transport system with seamless last-mile connectivity,” the Chief Minister said, underlining the government’s renewed focus on Metro expansion. Announcing a historic increase in transport spending, CM Gupta revealed that the Transport Department’s budget has been enhanced by nearly 60 per cent in the 2025–26 financial year. “An allocation of Rs 9,110 crore has been made this year, compared to Rs 5,702 crore last year, reflecting our government’s firm commitment to public transport,” she said. A major portion of this allocation has been earmarked for Delhi Metro projects. While the previous government had provided around Rs 500 crore for Metro expansion, the current dispensation has set aside Rs 2,929 crore for 2025–26. “Adequate provisions have been made so that Metro projects proceed without hindrance,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the government is also clearing long-pending liabilities left unpaid by earlier regimes. Citing studies by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and other institutions, CM Gupta said vehicular emissions are a major contributor to Delhi’s pollution. “Reducing dependence on private vehicles through a reliable public transport network is essential to address environmental degradation,” she said. The Cabinet has approved three major MRTS Phase-IV corridors-Lajpat Nagar to Saket, Inderlok to Indraprastha, and Rithala to Kundli, aimed at improving connectivity across Delhi and NCR. For these projects, the Delhi Government is bearing a financial responsibility of Rs 3,386.18 crore. “Rs 940 crore has already been released, while the next instalment of Rs 336 crore is in process,” she informed. The government is clearing pending Metro liabilities of nearly Rs 2,700 crore from Phases I–III. Chief Minister Gupta said Delhi’s active role on the DMRC Board ensures coordination and funding, adding the city is working towards a zero-emission transport system.

दिल्ली CM: प्रदूषण कम करने मेट्रो विस्तार प्राथमिक

दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता ने रविवार को कहा कि सरकार पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम को मज़बूत करने और प्रदूषण को कंट्रोल करने के लिए दिल्ली मेट्रो नेटवर्क के जल्द विस्तार पर फोकस कर रही है, एक अधिकारी ने बताया। हवा प्रदूषण से लड़ने के लिए सरकार की प्रतिबद्धता को दोहराते हुए, सीएम गुप्ता ने कहा कि राष्ट्रीय राजधानी और NCR में प्रदूषण पर प्रभावी कंट्रोल के लिए एक मज़बूत पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम की ज़रूरत है, जिसमें लास्ट-माइल कनेक्टिविटी बिना किसी रुकावट के हो। उन्होंने कहा कि पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट को मज़बूत करने के लिए मौजूदा बजट में ट्रांसपोर्ट डिपार्टमेंट को 60 प्रतिशत ज़्यादा फंड दिया गया है। उन्होंने कहा कि दिल्ली मेट्रो के विस्तार के लिए भी पर्याप्त प्रावधान किए गए हैं ताकि चल रहे प्रोजेक्ट बिना किसी रुकावट के आगे बढ़ सकें। मुख्यमंत्री ने आगे कहा कि दिल्ली सरकार मेट्रो प्रोजेक्ट से जुड़ी उन बकाया देनदारियों को भी क्लियर कर रही है, जिन्हें पिछली सरकारों ने बिना भुगतान किए छोड़ दिया था। उन्होंने टिप्पणी की कि अगर पिछली सरकारों ने राजधानी के ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम के प्रति ज़्यादा गंभीरता दिखाई होती, तो आज दिल्ली को इतने गंभीर प्रदूषण का सामना नहीं करना पड़ता। मुख्यमंत्री के अनुसार, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और अन्य सरकारी और रिसर्च-आधारित संस्थानों के डेटा से पता चलता है कि दिल्ली-NCR में पर्यावरण के खराब होने और प्रदूषण में गाड़ियों से निकलने वाला धुआं एक बड़ा कारण है।

क्या मेट्रो की बढ़ी रीच से कंट्रोल होगा प्रदूषण? दिल्ली सरकार ने बढ़ाया परिवहन का बजट

दिल्ली एनसीआर में प्रदूषण का स्तर गंभीर श्रेणी में पहुंच गया है. जिसकी वजह से लोगों को काफी परेशानियों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है. हालांकि रेखा सरकार प्रदूषण को कंट्रोल करने के लिए हर मुमकिन कोशिश कर रही है. दिल्ली सरकार का मानना है कि देश की राजधानी एवं एनसीआर के प्रदूषण को प्रभावी रूप नियंत्रित करने के लिए सार्वजनिक परिवहन व्यवस्था खासतौर पर दिल्ली मेट्रो के नेटवर्क को मजबूत और लास्ट कनेक्टिविटी तक पहुंचाना जरूरी है. मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता का कहना है कि हमारी सरकार ने परिवहन विभाग को सुदृढ़ करने के लिए वर्तमान बजट में 60 प्रतिशत अधिक राशि का प्रावधान किया है. इस बजट में दिल्ली मेट्रो के विस्तार के लिए भी समुचित धनराशि रखी गई है, ताकि उसकी वर्तमान परियोजनाओं में किसी प्रकार की बाधा न आए. उन्होंने यह भी जानकारी दी कि दिल्ली सरकार दिल्ली मेट्रो की पुरानी देनदारियों को भी अदा कर रही है, जिसे पूर्व सरकारों ने अदा नहीं किया था. उन्होंने कहा कि अगर पूर्व सरकारों ने राजधानी के परिवहन व्यवस्था को लेकर गंभीरता दिखाई होती तो आज दिल्ली को गंभीर प्रदूषण का सामना नहीं करना पड़ता. ‘वाहनों का उत्सर्जन रोकना जरूरी’ सीएम ने कहा कि सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) और अन्य सरकारी एवं शोध-आधारित स्रोतों के अनुसार दिल्ली-एनसीआर का पर्यावरण बिगाड़ने और प्रदूषण को गंभीर बनाने में वाहनों से निकला उत्सर्जन प्रमुख भूमिका निभा रहा है. इस प्रदूषण को रोकने के लिए सार्वजनिक परिवहन सिस्टम को मजबूत किया जाना बेहद आवश्यक है. उन्होंने कहा कि प्रदूषण संकट और सड़कों पर वाहनों के बढ़ते दबाव को कम करने के लिए निर्णायक कदम उठाए रहे हैं. उन्होंने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के ‘नेट जीरो एमिशन’ और आधुनिक परिवहन के विजन को धरातल पर लाने के लिए दिल्ली सरकार ने सार्वजनिक परिवहन व्यवस्था, विशेषकर दिल्ली मेट्रो (डीएमआरसी) के विस्तार के लिए बजट की पर्याप्त व्यवस्था की है. परिवहन विभाग के बजट में की बढ़ोतरी उन्होंने बताया कि दिल्ली सरकार ने वर्ष 2025-26 के बजट में सार्वजनिक परिवहन क्षेत्र का विस्तार और मजबूती देने के लिए समुचित व्यवस्था की है. सरकार ने वर्तमान बजट में परिवहन विभाग को सुदृढ़ करने के लिए 9,110 करोड़ रुपए का प्रावधान किया है. यह बजट पिछली सरकार द्वारा वर्ष 2024-25 में आवंटित 5,702 करोड़ रुपए की तुलना में लगभग 60 प्रतिशत अधिक है. उन्होंने कहा कि यह वृद्धि केवल आंकड़ों तक सीमित नहीं है, बल्कि दिल्ली की लाइफ लाइन कही जाने वाली मेट्रो के प्रति सरकार की गंभीरता को भी दर्शाती है. उन्होंने कहा कि जहां पूर्ववर्ती सरकार ने पिछले वर्ष मेट्रो के लिए महज 500 करोड़ रुपए के आसपास की राशि का प्रावधान किया था, वहीं हमारी सरकार ने वर्ष 2025-26 के बजट में मेट्रो परियोजनाओं के लिए 2,929 करोड़ रुपए का भारी-भरकम आवंटन किया है. ‘मेट्रो की पुरानी देनदारी भी चुका रही सरकार’ मुख्यमंत्री ने यह भी बताया कि उनकी सरकार की कैबिनेट ने एमआरटीएस (मास रैपिड ट्रांजिट सिस्टम) फेज-IV के तीन प्रमुख कॉरिडोर को मंजूरी देकर इसके विस्तार का मार्ग प्रशस्त किया है. इन कॉरिडोर में लाजपत नगर से साकेत, इंद्रलोक से इंद्रप्रस्थ और रिठाला से कुंडली (हरियाणा) शामिल है. उन्होंने कहा कि इस विस्तार से न केवल दिल्ली के भीतर कनेक्टिविटी बेहतर होगी, बल्कि दिल्ली-एनसीआर के बीच यात्रियों को एक सुलभ विकल्प मिलेगा. उन्होंने कहा कि इस परियोजना के लिए दिल्ली सरकार 3,386.18 करोड़ रुपए का वित्तीय भार स्वयं वहन कर रही है. उन्होंने कहा कि सरकार ने फंड की उपलब्धता सुनिश्चित करते हुए चालू वित्त वर्ष में 940 करोड़ रुपए की राशि पहले ही वितरित कर दी है, जबकि 336 करोड़ रुपए की अगली किस्त प्रक्रिया में है. इसके अलावा सरकार पिछली देनदारियों (फेज-I, II, III) के करीब 2,700 करोड़ रुपए का भी निपटान कर रही है. ‘परिवहन व्यवस्था पर पिछली सरकारों की अनदेखी’ सीएम रेखा गुप्ता का मानना है कि जब तक लोग निजी वाहनों को छोड़कर सार्वजनिक परिवहन की ओर रुख नहीं करेंगे, तब तक प्रदूषण की समस्या का स्थाई समाधान संभव नहीं है. उन्होंने कहा कि सरकार का संकल्प है कि मेट्रो नेटवर्क को इतना सुदृढ़ और व्यापक बना दिया जाए कि अंतिम छोर (Last Mile Connectivity) तक लोगों को निजी वाहन निकालने की आवश्यकता ही न पड़े. उन्होंने कहा कि इसी प्रतिबद्धता के अंतर्गत सरकार दिल्ली मेट्रो को पर्याप्त बजट उपलब्ध करा रही है, साथ ही पुरानी देनदारियों का भी भुगतान कर रही है. उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि डीएमआरसी बोर्ड में दिल्ली सरकार का सक्रिय प्रतिनिधित्व अब बेहतर समन्वय, त्वरित फंडिंग और परियोजनाओं के समय पर कार्यान्वयन को सुनिश्चित कर रहा है. मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि दिल्ली की पिछली सरकारों ने अगर सार्वजनिक परिवहन व्यवस्था को सुदृढ़ और उसका विस्तार करने के लिए गंभीरता दिखाई होती तो आज दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण की समस्या इतनी गंभीर न होती और आम जन को स्वास्थ्य व अन्य समस्याओं का सामना नहीं करना पड़ता. ‘PM के ‘जीरो उत्सर्जन’ विजन को साकार कर रही सरकार’ मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि परिवहन व्यवस्था को ‘जीरो उत्सर्जन’ बनाने का जो सपना प्रधानमंत्री ने देश के लिए देखा है, दिल्ली सरकार उसे मिशन मोड में अपना रही है. उन्होंने कहा कि पीएम अक्सर आधुनिक बुनियादी ढांचे और पर्यावरण के अनुकूल विकास पर जोर देते रहे हैं. दिल्ली की वर्तमान सरकार केंद्र सरकार की ‘विशेष सहायता योजना’ के तहत प्राप्त आवंटन का कुशलतापूर्वक उपयोग कर रही है, ताकि मेट्रो के फेज-IV विस्तार को समय सीमा के भीतर पूरा किया जा सके. सीएम के अनुसार दिल्ली सरकार की प्राथमिकता केवल सड़कें बनाना नहीं, बल्कि एक ऐसी इको-फ्रेंडली परिवहन प्रणाली विकसित करना है जो, आने वाली पीढ़ियों को स्वच्छ हवा दे सके.

Delhi government prioritises metro expansion to curb pollution: CM Rekha Gupta

The Delhi Government on Sunday said it is intensifying efforts to curb air pollution by ramping up public transport infrastructure, with the expansion of the Delhi Metro emerging as a key priority. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said effective control of pollution in the national capital and the NCR hinges on a strong, accessible public transport system backed by seamless last-mile connectivity. She stated that the Transport Department has been allocated 60 per cent additional funds in the current budget to strengthen public transportation. Adequate provisions have also been made for the expansion of the Delhi Metro to ensure that ongoing projects proceed without hindrance. The Chief Minister added that the Delhi government is also clearing pending liabilities related to Metro projects that were left unpaid by previous governments. According to the Chief Minister, data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and other government and research-based institutions indicate that vehicular emissions are a major contributor to environmental degradation and pollution in Delhi-NCR. Strengthening public transport, therefore, is essential to reduce dependence on private vehicles and to address the pollution crisis effectively. She said that in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Net Zero Emission’ and modern, sustainable transport, the Delhi government has made substantial budgetary provisions for public transport, particularly for the expansion of the Delhi Metro (DMRC). The Chief Minister informed that an allocation of rs 9,110 crore has been made in the 2025–26 Budget, compared to Rs 5,702 crore in 2024–25, an increase of nearly 60 per cent. This enhanced allocation reflects the government’s strong commitment to the Delhi Metro, often regarded as the lifeline of the capital. While the previous government had allocated around Rs 500 crore for Metro projects last year, the current government has earmarked Rs 2,929 crore for Metro expansion in 2025–26. The Chief Minister further stated that the Delhi cabinet has approved three major corridors under MRTS Phase-IV Lajpat Nagar to Saket, Inderlok to Indraprastha, and Rithala to Kundli (Haryana) paving the way for enhanced connectivity within Delhi and improved travel options for commuters across Delhi-NCR. For this project, the Delhi government is bearing a financial responsibility of Rs 3,386.18 crore. An amount of Rs 940 crore has already been released in the current financial year, while the next instalment of Rs 336 crore will be released. Additionally, pending liabilities of nearly Rs 2,700 crore related to Phases I, II and III are also being cleared. Emphasising the need for a shift from private vehicles to public transport, the CM said lasting solutions to pollution are possible only when citizens are provided with a reliable, extensive and convenient public transport network. The government aims to make the Metro network so comprehensive that people do not need to rely on private vehicles even for last-mile connectivity. She added that active representation of the Delhi government on the DMRC Board is ensuring better coordination, timely funding and faster implementation of projects. The CM noted that neglect of public transport expansion by previous governments had contributed significantly to the current pollution challenges faced by Delhi-NCR. Reiterating the government’s long-term vision, the Chief Minister said the Delhi Government is working in mission mode to realise the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a ‘Zero

क्या मेट्रो की बढ़ी रीच से कंट्रोल होगा प्रदूषण? दिल्ली सरकार ने बढ़ाया परिवहन का बजट

दिल्ली-NCR में प्रदूषण का लेवल बहुत ज़्यादा हो गया है, जिससे लोगों को बहुत परेशानी हो रही है। फिर भी, रेखा सरकार प्रदूषण को कंट्रोल करने की पूरी कोशिश कर रही है। दिल्ली सरकार का मानना ​​है कि देश की राजधानी और NCR में प्रदूषण को असरदार तरीके से कंट्रोल करने के लिए पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम, खासकर दिल्ली मेट्रो नेटवर्क को मज़बूत करना और आखिरी मील तक कनेक्टिविटी पक्का करना ज़रूरी है। मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता ने कहा कि सरकार ने ट्रांसपोर्ट डिपार्टमेंट को मज़बूत करने के लिए मौजूदा बजट में 60 परसेंट की बढ़ोतरी की है। इस बजट में दिल्ली मेट्रो के विस्तार के लिए भी काफ़ी फंड शामिल है, ताकि इसके मौजूदा प्रोजेक्ट्स में रुकावट न आए। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि दिल्ली सरकार दिल्ली मेट्रो की पुरानी देनदारियों को भी चुका रही है, जिनका पिछली सरकारों ने पेमेंट नहीं किया था। उन्होंने कहा कि अगर पिछली सरकारों ने राजधानी के ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम को लेकर गंभीरता दिखाई होती, तो आज दिल्ली को गंभीर प्रदूषण का सामना नहीं करना पड़ता। "गाड़ियों से निकलने वाले एमिशन को कंट्रोल करने की ज़रूरत है" मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और दूसरे सरकारी और रिसर्च-बेस्ड सोर्स के मुताबिक, दिल्ली-NCR में पर्यावरण को खराब करने और प्रदूषण को और खराब करने में गाड़ियों से निकलने वाला एमिशन एक बड़ी भूमिका निभा रहा है। इस प्रदूषण को कंट्रोल करने के लिए पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम को मज़बूत करना बहुत ज़रूरी है। उन्होंने कहा कि प्रदूषण की समस्या को दूर करने और सड़कों पर गाड़ियों के बढ़ते दबाव को कम करने के लिए ज़रूरी कदम उठाए जा रहे हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के "नेट ज़ीरो एमिशन" और मॉडर्न ट्रांसपोर्ट के विज़न को पूरा करने के लिए, दिल्ली सरकार ने पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम, खासकर दिल्ली मेट्रो (DMRC) के विस्तार के लिए काफ़ी बजट दिया है। ट्रांसपोर्ट डिपार्टमेंट के बजट में बढ़ोतरी उन्होंने कहा कि दिल्ली सरकार ने 2025-26 के बजट में पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट सेक्टर के विस्तार और मज़बूती के लिए काफ़ी इंतज़ाम किए हैं। सरकार ने मौजूदा बजट में ट्रांसपोर्ट डिपार्टमेंट को मज़बूत करने के लिए ₹9,110 करोड़ दिए हैं। यह बजट पिछली सरकार द्वारा 2024-25 में दिए गए 5,702 करोड़ रुपये से करीब 60 परसेंट ज़्यादा है। उन्होंने कहा कि यह बढ़ोतरी सिर्फ़ आंकड़ों तक सीमित नहीं है, बल्कि दिल्ली की लाइफलाइन मानी जाने वाली मेट्रो के प्रति सरकार की गंभीरता को भी दिखाती है। उन्होंने कहा कि पिछले साल मेट्रो के लिए सिर्फ़ 500 करोड़ रुपये दिए गए थे, लेकिन 2025-26 के बजट में उनकी सरकार ने मेट्रो प्रोजेक्ट्स के लिए 2,929 करोड़ रुपये का बड़ा हिस्सा दिया है। 'सरकार मेट्रो का पुराना कर्ज़ भी चुका रही है' मुख्यमंत्री ने यह भी बताया कि उनकी सरकार की कैबिनेट ने तीन मुख्य कॉरिडोर को मंज़ूरी देकर MRTS (मास रैपिड ट्रांजिट सिस्टम) फेज़ IV के विस्तार का रास्ता साफ़ कर दिया है। इन कॉरिडोर में लाजपत नगर से साकेत, इंद्रलोक से इंद्रप्रस्थ और रिठला से कुंडली (हरियाणा) शामिल हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि इस विस्तार से न सिर्फ़ दिल्ली के अंदर कनेक्टिविटी बेहतर होगी, बल्कि दिल्ली और NCR के बीच आने-जाने वालों के लिए एक आसान ऑप्शन भी मिलेगा। उन्होंने कहा कि दिल्ली सरकार इस प्रोजेक्ट के लिए ₹3,386.18 करोड़ का फाइनेंशियल बोझ उठा रही है। उन्होंने आगे कहा कि सरकार ने मौजूदा फाइनेंशियल ईयर में पहले ही ₹940 करोड़ दे दिए हैं, जिससे फंड की उपलब्धता पक्की हो सकती है, जबकि ₹336 करोड़ की अगली किस्त पाइपलाइन में है। इसके अलावा, सरकार पिछली देनदारियों (फेज I, II और III) से लगभग ₹2,700 करोड़ दे रही है। 'पिछली सरकारों ने ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम को नज़रअंदाज़ किया' मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता का मानना ​​है कि जब तक लोग प्राइवेट गाड़ियों से पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट पर नहीं जाते, प्रदूषण की समस्या का पक्का समाधान नामुमकिन है। उन्होंने कहा कि सरकार मेट्रो नेटवर्क को इतना मजबूत और बड़ा बनाने के लिए कमिटेड है कि लोगों को लास्ट माइल (लास्ट माइल कनेक्टिविटी) तक पहुंचने तक अपनी गाड़ियों का इस्तेमाल करने की ज़रूरत न पड़े। उन्होंने कहा कि इस कमिटमेंट को ध्यान में रखते हुए, सरकार दिल्ली मेट्रो को काफी बजट दे रही है और पिछली देनदारियों को भी चुका रही है। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि DMRC बोर्ड में दिल्ली सरकार का एक्टिव रिप्रेजेंटेशन अब बेहतर कोऑर्डिनेशन, तेज़ी से फंडिंग और प्रोजेक्ट्स का समय पर इम्प्लीमेंटेशन पक्का कर रहा है। मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि अगर पिछली दिल्ली सरकारों ने पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम को मज़बूत करने और बढ़ाने को गंभीरता से लिया होता, तो आज दिल्ली-NCR में प्रदूषण की समस्या इतनी गंभीर नहीं होती, और आम आदमी को हेल्थ और दूसरी समस्याओं का सामना नहीं करना पड़ता। "सरकार प्रधानमंत्री के 'ज़ीरो एमिशन' विज़न को पूरा कर रही है" मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि दिल्ली सरकार ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम को 'ज़ीरो एमिशन' बनाने के प्रधानमंत्री के विज़न को मिशन मोड पर फॉलो कर रही है। उन्होंने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री ने अक्सर मॉडर्न इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर और एनवायरनमेंट-फ्रेंडली डेवलपमेंट पर ज़ोर दिया है। मौजूदा दिल्ली सरकार मेट्रो एक्सपेंशन के चौथे फेज़ को पूरा करने के लिए केंद्र सरकार की 'स्पेशल असिस्टेंस स्कीम' के तहत मिले एलोकेशन का अच्छे से इस्तेमाल कर रही है।

Delhi on orange alert for fog today, 400+ AQI likely over the weekend

“A fall in temperature can intensify the inversion effect, which can lead to a spike in pollution levels, as this causes pollutants to get trapped near the lower layers of the atmosphere,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment. “However, the intensity of the spike will depend on several meteorological conditions, including wind speed, and the interplay between the meteorological conditions.” Dense fog converged with air pollution to smother Delhi for yet another day on Friday, disrupting over 700 flights and leading to the cancellation of at least 177 more, with worse weather expected over the weekend. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for fog on Saturday and the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) predicted the air quality index — which barely budged from 373 to 374 in the 24 hours ended at Friday on 4pm — to climb into the 400+ “severe” category over the weekend. “Dense to very dense fog is expected to form at several places across the city in the early hours of Saturday. At night, a shallow fog or mist might be observed,” an IMD official said, adding that Sunday and Monday would likely see moderate fog at many places and dense fog at isolated locations during morning hours. On Friday, visibility dropped to zero at the Safdarjung weather station at 5.30am and plunged to 50 metres at Palam, forcing the India Meteorological Department to issue a red alert in the early hours. The disruption left 177 flights cancelled — 88 departures and 89 arrivals, including two international flights — according to airport officials. While the city’s 24-hour average air quality index stood at 374 in the “very poor” category, the morning reading climbed to 382, edging closer to the severe threshold of 401, while 11 of 40 monitoring stations recorded severe air quality. Vivek Vihar reported the worst air quality at an index of 434, followed by Anand Vihar at 430. At one point during the day, 14 stations were in the severe category before conditions improved slightly at some locations. The deteriorating air marked the ninth consecutive day of very poor or severe pollution despite an aggressive vehicular enforcement drive launched Thursday that resulted in thousands of challans and widespread disruption to those using their own vehicles across NCR— underscoring what the Supreme Court described earlier this week as the “total failure” of reactive pollution control measures. The minimum temperature was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius on Friday, 0.9 degrees above normal, while the maximum reached 22.2 degrees. Forecasts suggest the minimum could fall to 7-9 degrees on Saturday, with the maximum hovering around 21-23 degrees over the weekend before dropping to 20-22 degrees by mid-next week. The temperature decline threatens to intensify what meteorologists call the inversion effect, trapping pollutants in lower layers of the atmosphere. “A fall in temperature can intensify the inversion effect, which can lead to a spike in pollution levels, as this causes pollutants to get trapped near the lower layers of the atmosphere,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment. “However, the intensity of the spike will depend on several meteorological conditions, including wind speed, and the interplay between the meteorological conditions.”

Delhi-NCR air pollution: December on track to be dirtiest in 8 yrs amid severe fog, ITO records worst AQI

Meteorologists warn that falling temperatures could intensify the inversion effect, trapping pollutants near the ground. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, explained that a drop in temperature can cause pollutants to get trapped near the lower layers of the atmosphere. The severity of the spike will depend on meteorological factors like wind speed. Delhi is facing another stretch of poor air quality and persistent fog, with December already recording three severe air days and the month's average air quality index (AQI) rising to critical levels. The capital experienced a 24-day streak of very poor air in November, including three severe days mid-month. On Saturday, the national capital was shrouded in a thick layer of noxious smog, with the overall AQI standing at 380 at around 7 am, falling into the 'very poor' category. AQI across various parts of Delhi (as of 7 am on December 20) ITO -- 429 Sarai Kale Khan -- 428 Anand Vihar -- 428 Akshardham -- 420 Ashok Vihar -- 407 Rao Tularam Marg -- 403 Barapullah flyover -- 380 Persistent pollution coincides with dense fog and a lack of rainfall this December, as recorded at the Safdarjung weather station. The absence of rain prevents pollutants from being cleared, worsening air quality. On Friday, dense fog caused widespread travel disruption, with over 700 flights affected and at least 177 cancelled, as conditions are forecast to deteriorate over the weekend.

जलवायु संकट: मौसमी घटनाओं से 1.74 करोड़ हेक्टेयर फसल तबाह...4,419 मौतें

साल 2025 भारत के लिए जलवायु संकट से भरा रहा। पूरे साल लोग चरम मौसमी घटनाओं से जूझते रहे। जनवरी से नवंबर के बीच 334 में से 331 दिन देश के किसी न किसी हिस्से में लू, शीत लहर, आकाशीय बिजली, भीषण बारिश, बाढ़, भूस्खलन, तूफान या मेघ फटने जैसी घटनाओं के नाम रहे। दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) और डाउन टू अर्थ के विश्लेषण के मुताबिक इन 11 महीनों में चरम मौसम ने 4,419 लोगों की जान ली, करीब 1.74 करोड़ हेक्टेयर फसल क्षेत्र को नुकसान पहुंचाया, 1,81,459 से अधिक घर तबाह हुए और लगभग 77,189 पशुओं की मौत दर्ज की गई। यह केवल आंकड़ों की कहानी नहीं है, बल्कि उस बदलते भारत की तस्वीर है, जहां जलवायु परिवर्तन अब भविष्य का खतरा नहीं, बल्कि वर्तमान का सबसे बड़ा संकट बन चुका है।

जलवायु संकट: भारत में 2025 में गर्मी, बाढ़ और तूफानों ने मचाया कहर

साल 2025 भारत के लिए चरम मौसम की घटनाओं का साल बन गया। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट और डाउन टू अर्थ की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, लू, शीतलहर, बिजली गिरना, तूफान, चक्रवात, बादल फटना, भारी बारिश, बाढ़ और भूस्खलन जैसी घटनाएं पूरे साल लगातार होती रहीं। 99% से अधिक दिनों में मौसम की चरम घटनाएं जनवरी से नवंबर के बीच देश ने 334 में से 331 दिनों तक कोई न कोई प्राकृतिक आपदा झेली 2024 में यह आकंड़ा 295 दिन, 2023 में 296 दिन और 2022 में 292 दिन था 1.74 करोड़ हेक्टेयर फसल प्रभावित हुई 1.81 लाख से अधिक घर नष्ट हुए 77,189 जानवरों की मौत हुई

Centre opens bids for third party environmental auditors

India will soon have a cadre of private third party environmental auditors to ensure industries, processes, activities are meeting environmental norms, outsourcing a key responsibility of the State in an effort to cut delays and improve ease of doing business, although environmentalists are worried that this could end up giving industry a free rein. The Union environment ministry has published a request for a proposal (RFP) for selection of Environment Audit Designated Agency (EADA), an autonomous organisation under the central government, which will specialise in conducting third-party environmental audits of projects, processes, and activities regulated under various environmental laws. The processes to be audited include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures by corporations and the implementation of the Green Credit Programme, a market-based system incentivising voluntary environmental actions such as tree planting. The reform, based on trust-based governance according to the government, comes at a time when several Indian cities are battling severe air pollution. To be sure, the State’s own monitoring mechanism has significant capacity constraints. The third party auditors are expected to fill the huge vacuum in environmental monitoring capacity within the government. HT reported on December 15 that nearly 45% of scientific and technical positions in pollution control boards across the country are vacant, citing the Union environment ministry’s response in the Lok Sabha. The environment ministry notified the Environment Audit Rules 2025 on August 29. “The Environment Audit (EA) Rules, 2025, establish a credible system of environmental audits by certified professionals to improve compliance data, support enforcement, and align with national initiatives like the Green Credit Programme and ESG disclosures. The Rules create the EADA, which certifies auditors, assigns audits digitally, monitors performance, enforces a code of conduct, and maintains a public auditor registry,” the RFP document published on December 11 states. “I think it is always better to go for third party auditors. But our experience with independent laboratories has not been great. I have been doubtful in the past as their results always seemed to favour the industry. At this juncture, it is very important that the reports reveal a real picture of conditions and compliance. It is important to understand how these auditors will be made accountable. And how will the most competent ones be chosen?” asked Mohan George, Consultant, Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility, Centre for Science and Environment and formerly an officer with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Dirty Underside of Green Transition

Last month when the global leaders were busy in deliberating on various aspects of carbon emission and negotiating on the quantum of climate finance required to mitigate global warming at the 30th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (CoP30) held in Brazil 2025, a few alarming reports have flagged that a wide array of non-carbon pollutants and environmental threats demand urgent focus to protect human health and ecosystems. In November, Indian newspapers reported that a very high level of uranium had been found in the breast milk of women in six districts of Bihar, indicating a significant threat to infants’ health. The samples tested had uranium concentrations of up to 5.25 micrograms per litre (µg / L), and significant contamination was noted in every sample. There is no permissible limit or benchmark specified for uranium concentration in breast milk. Last year, scientists discovered lead in breast milk samples and found arsenic some years earlier. As winter has set in, the air has been toxic in Delhi for over a month now, with the air quality index (AQI) showing a reading of over 400, which means “hazardous”. Lately, a few citizens sat in protest in front of the India Gate with placards: “We can’t breathe”, “Stop poisoning us”. An analysis of air quality by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed that the level of fine pollutants has shown no improvement since 2022, indicating that pollution control measures being implemented by government agencies have not been effective. “What’s more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5, which are microscopic particles in the air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller) and other toxic gases such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed”. Recent studies have identified severe air pollution hotspots and air sheds in cities and districts across Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. On November 20, Malaysia suspended operations at a rare earth site and two tin mines in western Perak state following an investigation into complaints that a stretch of Perak River, the second-longest on the Malaysian peninsula, had turned bright blue. Greenpeace called for an investigation to determine what had caused a river in Malaysia near rare earths and tin mines to turn bright blue. Rising demand for ‘critical minerals’ for the manufacture of new technology, considered ‘green and sustainable’, is creating a new form of climate colonialism in the 21st century, as mining of these minerals is highly polluting. Commenting on the hazardous mining of cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amnesty International observed: ‘Decarbonising the global economy is leading to further human rights violations’. China has emerged as a major player and also a major polluter in the global critical mineral market. The vital transition from fossil fuels into renewable energy is being captured by super-rich polluters – individuals, companies and countries – reproducing colonial patterns that are entrenching inequalities and fuelling human rights violations, says Oxfam’s new report “Unjust Transition: Reclaiming the Energy Future from Climate Colonialism”, published in September 2025. Although Global South countries hold roughly 70 per cent of transition minerals reserves, the majority of the investments in renewable energy are concentrated in the Global North (50 per cent) and China (29 per cent) – with those profits largely falling into the hands of the richest 1 per cent. Critical minerals are those non-fuel resources that are essential to countries’ economies or development. Critical minerals include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements. These are used widely in clean energy technologies, such as wind turbines, solar panels, EV batteries and motors, as well as in energy transmission infrastructure like power lines. Additional minerals important for the energy transition include aluminium, manganese, silicon and silver, among others. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that if governments are to meet their announced energy and climate pledges, critical mineral demand could more than double from 2022 levels by 2030 and quadruple by 2050. Extraction and processing of critical minerals are highly concentrated. For example, in 2023, Indonesia held 42 per cent of global nickel reserves and 54 per cent of global nickel production, while the Democratic Republic of Congo held 55 per cent of global cobalt reserves and 74 per cent of global cobalt production. Once mined, the majority of these minerals are shipped to China for processing before they can be applied in end uses. China processes more than half of the world’s lithium, two-thirds of its cobalt, one-third of its nickel and nearly all rare earth elements. Rare earth elements are a subset of critical minerals that includes 17 elements used extensively in clean energy systems and other advanced technologies. These are critical in electric vehicles, renewable energy, military applications and high-tech industries. Rare earth production is also on the rise. In 2024, production jumped to 3,90,000 metric tons worldwide – a threefold rise from 1,32,000 metric tons in 2017. China is the world’s largest producer of rare earths. In 2024, 70 per cent of US rare earths imports originated from China. While the United States is the second-largest producer of rare earths, it trails China significantly. The largest rare earth mining company in the world is China Northern Rare Earth High-Tech, which owns the prolific Bayan Obo rare earth mining complex in Inner Mongolia. A steep rise in the global demand for critical minerals is driving the toxic pollution of some of Asia’s most important rivers, like the Mekong, a thriving ecosystem that meanders through six countries, threatening the health and livelihoods of tens of millions of people living along the Mekong and its tributaries. Those who drink, bathe and fish in the waters every day get exposed to deadly toxins from hundreds of unregulated mines in the region, many of which are located in war-torn, lawless areas of Myanmar. Stimson Center has mapped out on a “massive scale” more than 2,400 sites, many of them unregulated mines across mainland Southeast Asia, that could be releasing dangerous pollutants such as cyanide, mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals directly into the region’s rivers. Copper and cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo has devastated the ecosystem and compelled the poor miners to work in slave-like conditions. The same story is repeated in other mining hubs of Asia, Africa and Latin America. As in the previous centuries, climate colonialism continues in the name of ‘green technology and sustainable development’. Views expressed are personal. The writer is a professor of Business Administration who primarily writes on political economy, global trade, and sustainable development

Pollution in Beijing was worse than in Delhi:How did China bring AQI below 30; what's stopping India from doing the same?

Two hours before publishing this article, we checked the live list of the world’s 50 most polluted cities. Out of 50, 47 cities are in India. In almost all areas of Delhi-NCR, the AQI has crossed 400. This falls under the hazardous category, meaning the final and most dangerous level. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy spokesperson in Delhi, Yu Jing, explained how China cleaned the air of its capital and once most polluted city, Beijing. She also offered help to India in reducing pollution. So how did China remove pollution from its cities, and can India not clean its air by adopting the same model? We will find out in today’s Explainer… Why has the air in Delhi-NCR become so bad? For the past one week, Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained above 300, which falls in the severe category. This is equivalent to smoking around 82 cigarettes in a week. In many areas of Delhi-NCR, air quality is in the severe+ category, with AQI between 400 and 500. On 18 December, Delhi’s maximum AQI reached 566. In the past one month, Delhi’s AQI crossed 300 on 17 days, the most dangerous level. This is equivalent to smoking around 351 cigarettes in a month. Delhi’s pollution was also discussed in Parliament today. On 12 December, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had demanded a discussion. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had assured that a discussion would be held. There are four main reasons behind Delhi’s severe air pollution… Vehicle pollution: According to last year’s report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), around 51% of Delhi’s pollution comes from vehicles. This includes the finest pollutant particles PM 2.5, harmful gases and dust. Smoke from chemical factories: The second major cause of Delhi’s pollution is industry. Smoke emitted from factories in and around Delhi contains particulate matter such as PM 2.5 and PM 10. Stubble burning: In neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana, stubble is burnt between September and November after paddy harvest to prepare fields for wheat sowing. However, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has reduced by up to 90% between 2022 and 2025. Despite this, pollution persists in Delhi. Impact of winter: During winter, these factors become even more dangerous. Cold air has very little movement, causing pollution particles to get trapped at lower atmospheric levels. This increases pollution near the ground.

Unreliable data mask just how bad the air quality crisis is in India

A 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based think tank, found that 64% of funds under the program went toward reducing dust and only 12% to reducing pollution from vehicles and less than 1% to bringing down industrial air pollution. Recent remarks about pollution from two Indian officials have increased frustration among residents who say policymakers are unwilling to acknowledge the severity of India’s air quality crisis. When Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav told Parliament earlier this month that India’s capital, New Delhi, has seen 200 days with good air quality readings, pollution experts and opposition leaders said he chose a figure that overlooked the worst pollution months. A week later, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the air quality index—a measure of air pollution—was similar to a temperature reading and could be dealt with by spraying water. Crowds jeered at her at a subsequent public event, shouting “AQI” in reference to the city’s poor air quality readings. Gupta had also greenlit a controversial cloud seeding program earlier this year, saying it could produce rain that would lower pollution—despite lack of evidence that the approach would work. Residents in New Delhi and surrounding areas engulfed in toxic smog over the last few months said these are just the latest examples of officials denying the severity of air quality problems. “Instead of doing cloud seeding, I hope the government will wake up and take some real action,” said Anita, a 73-year-old New Delhi resident who goes by only one name. “It’s a shame.” Environmentalists and data experts said India’s air quality measurement standards are looser than in countries such as the United States, so moderate readings often mask dangerous pollution levels. India’s government air quality standards are also less stringent than World Health Organization guidelines. Experts said these gaps can erode public trust, even as few residents fully grasp how harmful polluted air is. Gaps in India’s air quality data India’s air quality is measured through a nationwide network of monitors and sensors, as well as satellite data. The monitors collect robust data, but there are too few of them, said Ronak Sutaria, CEO of Respirer Living, which builds machines and software for air quality monitoring. He said that the system falls short of letting citizens know how polluted the air in their neighborhoods really is. In 2019, India launched the National Clean Air Program, which set targets aiming to reduce pollution by up to 40% in 131 cities by 2026. The program has seen relative success, providing millions of dollars for monitors and water-spraying machines to reduce dust generated from vehicles plying the roads, construction activity and winds that blow desert sand into the cities. However, air pollution experts said the program has done little to reduce pollution from carbon-spewing industries or vehicle emissions, which are among the biggest sources of dirty air. Other sources include the burning of crop stubble on farms, use of wood and cow dung as cooking fuel and burning of garbage. A 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based think tank, found that 64% of funds under the program went toward reducing dust and only 12% to reducing pollution from vehicles and less than 1% to bringing down industrial air pollution. “We are making huge investments in air quality monitoring. And so when we are expanding, then it also becomes an imperative that we should be focusing on the quality,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the think tank. A public health emergency A study last year by the medical journal Lancet linked long-term exposure to polluted air to 1.5 million additional deaths every year in India, compared to a scenario where the country would have met WHO standards. Yet earlier this month, Prataprao Jadhav, India’s junior health minister, said there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish a direct correlation of death or disease exclusively to air pollution. Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said that air pollution is still not taken seriously as a public health issue. “Deaths related to air pollution are not being counted. And the reason why it’s not being counted is because there are no systematic mechanisms to do so,” Narayan said. Narayan said pollution causes long-term health problems for everyone exposed, but that it’s especially bad for pregnant women, the elderly and children. “As a consequence of exposure to air pollution, we see a lot of preterm births, miscarriages, low birth weight. Exposure at this stage has a lifelong consequence,” she said. A lack of political will Earlier this month, New Delhi residents took to the streets to protest against dirty air and demand immediate government action in a relatively rare instance of public demonstrations. “We do not know whether … citizens will be able to link air pollution to elections, but perhaps that’s where India is moving toward,” environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said in an interview. “Citizens are fed up.” Jha said authorities are not being honest about the problem and that there is a lack of political will to address the issue. “There’s more headline and image management than pollution management,” he said, adding that the high levels of pollution have been treated as normal by political leaders. “The first thing that the government needs to do is to be honest about the problem that we have,” he said. “The right diagnosis is extremely critical.” Regardless of whether policymakers act, the consequences of dirty air for the residents of India’s capital are evident. “Everyone feels the pollution. People are not able to work or even breathe,” said Satish Sharma, a 60-year-old auto rickshaw driver. Sharma said he has reduced his work hours as his health has deteriorated in the last few weeks because of the pollution. “I want to tell the government to please do something about this pollution,” he said. “Otherwise, people will move away from here.”

Delhi AQI Likely To Turn 'Severe' - When Can Air Quality Be Expected To Improve?

Shambhavi Shukla, Programme Manager at Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, told Mint that the air quality in Delhi is likely to improve from February and March onwards. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi remained in the "very poor" category on Saturday, December 20. The AQI was recorded at 376 early Saturday, as compared to 374 recorded on Friday. Officials told news agency PTI that dense fog is likely to worsen Delhi's air quality over the weekend, despite the implementation of stringent pollution-control measures. As per the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51–100 'satisfactory', 101–200 'moderate', 201–300 'poor', 301–400 'very poor' and 401–500 'severe'. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for fog, predicting dense fog on Saturday, December 20. Weather officials said foggy conditions are likely to persist during early mornings in the coming days as winter intensifies. When is Delhi AQI expected to improve? Shambhavi Shukla, Programme Manager at Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, told Mint that the air quality in Delhi is likely to improve from February and March onwards. "The air quality is not good, but better than what is happening right now," she said, adding that, as the year passes by, the monsoon comes from July-end and August onwards, "then you can see the best air quality." View full Image AQI trend from January 1, 2025, to November 30, 2025. (SAFAR)What leads to improved air quality? Shambhavi Shukla explained that when it rains, all the particles settle down. She said that, as of now, there is fog (water droplets and moisture in the air) and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5). Especially during the monsoon, when there is rain, these particulate matter settle down and "you can see less dust/particles, and it washes off the pollution from the air," Shukla said. Air pollution, foggy conditions during winter Severe air pollution and foggy conditions during winter are persistent challenges, pose significant health hazards, and disrupt daily routines worldwide. A study, titled 'Role of meteorology and air pollution on fog conditions over Delhi during the peak winter 2024', investigated the conditions favouring the prolonged fog events in Delhi during January 2024 using observations, back trajectories, and reanalysis datasets. Analysis of visibility observations revealed that foggy conditions persisted in Delhi for 46 percent of the time during the study period. The existence of three-four days of cold wave to severe cold wave conditions and the lack of passage of strong western disturbances across north and northwest India also favoured the prolonged fog formation. Besides, high relative humidity, shallow boundary layer, stable weather conditions such as the absence of significant surface winds, the existence of cold wave to severe cold wave, temperature inversion (up to 4 °C), poor ventilation, and presence of high particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) facilitated the fog formation.