Delhi’s new CM must focus on basics in a city in shambles. And she must respect its diversity
Delhi’s new CM Rekha Gupta will not be burdened by procedural challenges her predecessor faced. She has GOI and L-G’s support. Tri-state NCR has BJP govts in every state. This makes work easier but also majorly raises expectations. Scrutiny will be sharper, given she’ll govern the nation’s capital, and given the city’s dire straits. Her priorities must focus on quality-of-life basics: roads, Yamuna, drainage network and air quality.
Delhi, as is to be expected, attracts an unceasing flow of migrants across strata flowing in daily by air, train and road. Its roads, public transport and air quality must be seen as a composite to deliver real change. Poorly designed and unmaintained roads remain a nightmare. Ill-conceived new roads take years to complete, their construction becomes a chokehold on daily commute, driving up costs and air pollution.
Private parties dominate public transport, inefficient bus routes push commuters to use their own wheels. Two-wheeler daredevilry is skyhigh thanks to the burgeoning gig economy. Vehicles and road construction contribute to Delhi’s air pollution crisis. All in all, movement of people is as cumbersome as it is inefficient. Movement within NCR has restrictions and tolls that defeat its purpose.
Revival of Yamuna and its waterfront has so far been many Delhi govts’ fantasy game. No govt has come anywhere close to cleaning the river. Kolkata and Ahmedabad have spruced up their riverfronts, making them not only tourist attractions, but a much-needed go-to quiet public space for the city’s residents. The calming effect of a river in flow cannot be overstated – but parched Delhi has only been fed false promises for decades. This will be a tough task for Gupta.
Delhi is now synonymous with water on its roads, even after a splash of rain. That mostly happens when drains overflow. An overhaul of the decades-old drainage network has been underway for well over a decade. An IIT-designed revamped drainage master plan was discarded. New processes for surveys of the drainage network are reportedly underway. Suffice to say that’s much water under the bridge.
Finally, a city is as progressive as its people. Delhi’s a magnet for all kinds of people, professionals to daily wagers, from across the country. Listen to what they want – their different lifestyle choices and aspirations. They, along with the colourful spring splendour of hardy bougainvillea make Delhi what it is – a tough-spirited capital of freedoms.
This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
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