Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has emphasized that her administration has concentrated on rectifying long-pending structural issues across critical sectors since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government in the national capital after a gap of 27 years. In an interview with ANI, she detailed the focus on pollution control, public transport, waste management, healthcare, and education.
Policy Decisions and Accountability as Priorities
The Delhi CM asserted that the BJP-led administration, which assumed office on February 20, 2025, prioritized policy decisions and accountability from the outset. She stated, "We did our best to develop policies for the city of Delhi. The work that was stuck, hanging, or wandering until now has been addressed. And somewhere or another, the problems of the residents of Delhi, their hopes, their aspirations, were addressed." Gupta added that the government worked collaboratively to bring operations into effect and hold officials accountable, moving beyond mere narratives to solve Delhi's problems.
Implementation of Flagship Schemes
Gupta highlighted that several flagship schemes were launched from the first day of the government's tenure. These included the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, providing coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh to Delhi residents, and the Vandan Yojana. She explained, "Many plans were made from the very first day when we took the oath on February 20, 2025. From that very day, we implemented the Ayushman Yojana in which we gave health cover of 10 lakhs to the people of Delhi. We implemented the Vaya Vandan Yojana on the same day."
Addressing Stalled Projects and Previous Governance Gaps
The BJP leader criticized previous governments for not adequately solving Delhi's issues, noting that multiple projects had remained stalled under prior administrations. She said these were taken up on priority by the current government, focusing on correcting long-standing structural problems.
Expansion of Public Transport and Infrastructure
In terms of public transport, Gupta reported that Delhi currently operates around 3,600 buses, with nearly 1,700 buses added in the past year. The total fleet is expected to reach 7,700 buses by the end of 2026, with a long-term target of 11,000 buses by 2028, most of which will be electric. Additionally, funding has been sanctioned for metro expansion and last-mile connectivity projects, including e-bikes and EV autos.
First-Year Priorities and Future Plans
When asked about her top priority after assuming office, Gupta stated that her government treated policy correction and groundwork across all sectors as the highest priority, with a special emphasis on pollution control. She elaborated, "In the first year, my priority was to make decisions across all sectors. The targets had to be identified, policies had to be framed, tenders had to be issued so that work could actually begin." The government's initial year focused on policy drafting and transparent decision-making, with plans to present a detailed report card to the public.
