Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday inaugurated an orientation workshop for the “Clean Air, Healthy Delhi” programme, a seven-year initiative supported by the World Bank to tackle air pollution in the national capital. The programme aims to strengthen pollution control measures through improved monitoring, technology-based solutions and coordination among government departments.
The workshop was organised by the World Bank and the Environment Department as part of the Delhi Clean Air Programme. In a post on X, Chief Minister Gupta said the Rs 8,300 crore initiative, launched with World Bank support under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would provide fresh momentum to efforts aimed at improving Delhi’s air quality.
Gupta highlighted several measures planned under the programme, including the expansion of electric buses, implementation of the new electric vehicle policy, development of 32,000 EV charging points, stricter action against dust pollution and open garbage burning. She also mentioned plans for planting 70 lakh trees and efforts for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River as part of the government’s environmental strategy.
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The workshop was attended by World Bank Acting Country Director Paul Procee, Delhi Cabinet Ministers Parvesh Singh, Ashish Sood and M.S. Sirsa, along with other officials. The Delhi government said the programme will focus on scientific monitoring, modern technology adoption and effective implementation of pollution-control measures to create a cleaner and healthier urban environment.
In another development, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta wrote to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari seeking the declaration of Mandi Road in South Delhi as a National Highway. She requested that the road’s development be handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure comprehensive planning and infrastructure upgrades.
The Chief Minister said the nearly 8.8-km Mandi Road is a strategically important corridor connecting Mehrauli-Gurugram Road near Chhatarpur Metro Station with Gurugram-Faridabad Road at the Delhi-Haryana border. She noted that the road plays a key role in Delhi-NCR connectivity and that its widening and development proposal had been supported by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC). Gupta said NHAI involvement would help bring uniform engineering standards, improve daily commuting and strengthen regional economic connectivity.
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