Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Unveils ₹1 Lakh Crore ‘Historic’ Budget
Delhi Chief Minister and Finance Minister Rekha Gupta has unveiled a historic ₹1 lakh crore Budget for 2025-26, marking a 31.5% increase over the previous year. Terming the announcement as a break from past stagnation, Gupta emphasized that capital expenditure has been doubled to ₹28,000 crore, prioritizing infrastructure upgrades and long-term developmental projects.
Connectivity, Roads, and Bridges Get Major Push
To tackle Delhi’s traffic woes and improve regional accessibility, ₹1,000 crore has been allocated to enhance connectivity with the National Capital Region. Additionally, ₹3,843 crore has been earmarked for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, aimed at streamlining urban mobility and modernizing the city’s transport framework.
Empowering Women and Ensuring Public Safety
In a significant step toward women’s empowerment, the budget introduces the ‘Mahila Samridhi Yojana’ with a budget of ₹5,100 crore. Under the scheme, eligible women will receive ₹2,500 per month. Reinforcing the city’s commitment to public safety, the government also plans to install 50,000 new CCTV cameras across Delhi, further strengthening surveillance and crime prevention.
Healthcare, Sanitation, and Clean Yamuna Mission
Public health and sanitation are key highlights in the new budget. ₹2,144 crore has been dedicated to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to bolster healthcare infrastructure. For better sanitation, ₹500 crore will go toward repairing and upgrading sewer treatment plants, and ₹250 crore has been allocated to replace outdated sewer lines.
Efforts to rejuvenate the Yamuna River also received attention, with ₹500 crore allocated to ensure that only treated water flows into the river through a plan to decentralize 40 STPs. A broader ₹9,000 crore budget has been set aside for clean drinking water and sanitation efforts citywide.
Canteens, Slum Development, and Welfare Initiatives
The city will see the introduction of ‘Atal Canteens,’ offering affordable meals to low-income citizens, with ₹100 crore allocated for establishing 100 canteens. Additionally, ₹696 crore is being invested in the development of slum clusters and JJ colonies to improve the living standards of underprivileged residents.
This comprehensive budget signals a shift toward inclusive growth, prioritizing critical urban issues while targeting long-term resilience and sustainability for the national capital.
