Delhi CM inaugurates pilot project to shift overhead power cables underground
She said that the Delhi government will soon expand this pilot project to other parts of the city.
'The government has allocated a budget of ₹100 crore for undergrounding overhead wires in a phased manner. The underground wiring system will make the electricity supply more reliable, safe, and efficient. The current condition of open and tangled wires affects both the city's beauty and public safety,' Gupta said.
In Shalimar Bagh, the project will cost ₹8.07 crore. At least 5km of overhead high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) wires will be removed. Instead 10km of underground LT (440V) and 1.2km of HT (11KV) network will be built. Additionally, 23 new double-source feeder pillar boxes will be installed to enhance reliability of power supply. New GI (galvanised iron) octagonal poles and CCMS (Centralised Control and Monitoring System) switches will also be installed for street lighting.
'Around 5,500 families in the BH Block Janta flats of Shalimar Bagh will benefit from the project, which will also improve the aesthetic landscape of the area,' Gupta added.
The pilot project is likely to be completed in three months. The project will ensure uninterrupted 24x7 power supply in all seasons, officials said.
Despite repeated announcements by previous governments to underground overhead wiring in Delhi, the project has failed to take off on a large-scale and little visible progress has been made on the ground, leaving large parts of the city with a hazardous web of exposed electrical cables. The delay has been attributed to bureaucratic hurdles, lack of coordination between multiple agencies, and funding constraints.
Overhead power cables, visible across Delhi especially in unauthorised neighbourhoods, not only affects aesthetics but also poses serious safety risks, particularly during the monsoon season.
Power minister Ashish Sood, who was also present during the launch ceremony on Saturday, said the initiative is a major stride towards transforming Delhi into a wire-free city.
CM inaugurates other projects
Gupta also reviewed ongoing development works in Shalimar Bagh, which is her assembly constituency. She said that new drains are being constructed in BH (East) Shalimar Bagh at a cost of ₹10 lakh, a new sewer line is being laid in Sahipur village, also estimated at ₹10 lakh, and a new chaupal for Aarogya Mandir has been proposed in Sahipur. Gupta also inaugurated a boundary wall construction project at Kaniska Apartment (C and D blocks), being built at a cost of ₹23.48 lakh.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
15 hours ago
- Mint
Customers want returns. PSBs are waiving the minimum balance levy.
MUMBAI : In the face of decadal-low savings rates, state-run banks are hoping that dropping charges for not maintaining a minimum balance will help hold customers' interest in bank deposits. The decision, said two bankers close to the matter, follows a regulatory push to address customer grievances, as well as internal surveys that estimated limited revenue loss if such minimum balances are not maintained. 'The Reserve Bank of India wanted us to look into complaints, and this was one of the major areas. We therefore decided to stop minimum balance charges," said the first of the two bankers, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity. The second banker said state-owned lenders had conducted internal studies showing they could manage easily despite losing the extra revenue from minimum balance levies. Since June, public sector banks (PSBs) such as Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Bank of India have dropped charges for not maintaining a minimum average balance (MAB) in savings accounts, five years after India's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), did so. The step is also aimed at attracting a steady stream of depositors, thereby adding to the savings deposit base, said the two bankers. 'We want more people to open accounts with us since there is no pressure to keep a minimum amount of funds in the account," said the second banker. However, the step could prove to be woefully inadequate. Quest for deposits The whole banking industry, not just state-run banks, has been struggling to get people to park their savings with them. For instance, while SBI's savings deposit base grew 2.8% year-on-year in 2024-25, that of HDFC Bank, India's largest private-sector lender, expanded 5.3%. Casa (current account savings account) deposits help banks lower their overall cost of funds--current accounts pay no interest and savings deposit rates are significantly lower than those for term deposits. While the post-covid bull run has got Indians hooked to equities, an over two-decade-low savings rate of 2.5% does little to help retain customer deposits. 'For the customer, banks have now reduced the savings rate to 2.5%, which used to be 3.5-4% not very long ago. So, the customer was earning something at least on savings deposits, but now they have little incentive to keep money in that account," said Karan Gupta, director and head of financial institutions at credit rating agency India Ratings & Research. It is only fair that banks stop charging people for not maintaining a minimum balance, because doing so is like forcing customers to keep money despite low rates, Gupta added. 'The easy liquidity and almost assured access to money that savings accounts provide are not free. It comes at a cost—a negative real interest rate. Savings interest rates are much below the inflation rate," said Deep Narayan Mukherjee, partner and associate director-data science at consulting firm Boston Consulting Group. Mukherjee added that if savers consider the true opportunity cost, they may prefer to invest in liquid mutual funds and make higher returns, but they would lose some liquidity. 'But Casa holders pay a high price for that liquidity." Still, PSBs are prepared to let go of a significant revenue stream—they earned ₹2,331 crore from these penalties in 2023-24, showed a parliamentary reply, dated 24 July 2024, from Union minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary. It comes to 0.3% of their FY24 revenue, according to Capitaline. To be sure, banks never charged such a fee to customers with basic savings accounts, including those opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the government's flagship financial inclusion programme launched in 2014. Private-sector banks continue to charge customers for failing to maintain a minimum balance in savings accounts, barring the categories mentioned above. It's a start Although PSBs benefit from a strong trust factor, they have been steadily losing deposit market share to private sector banks, which are more effectively bundling investments, insurance, lending, and other value-added services. The share of deposits in public sector banks (PSBs) dropped by 580 basis points to 55.8% between end-March 2020 and 2025, according to RBI data, while private sector banks saw a 570 basis point rise to 35.2% over the same period. One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. Now, PSBs believe that focusing on customer experience can help them gain an edge over competitors, said experts. 'The decision by several PSBs to revisit or waive minimum average balance charges reflects a broader strategic realignment toward customer-centricity and inclusion," said Pratik Shah, partner and national leader-financial services at consulting firm EY India. He estimated that banks would face an annual revenue loss of around ₹1,700 crore from the move, along with the risk of accounts turning dormant. To offset this, they are expected to accelerate digital monetization, focus on fee-based income, and deploy analytics-led cross-selling, he added.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
New facility at Nand Nagri to test 72,000 vehicles annually
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art, fully automated Automated Testing Station (ATS) at the DTC Nand Nagri Depot in northeast Delhi. The new facility will have the capacity to test 72,000 vehicles annually, significantly expanding Delhi's vehicle inspection infrastructure. Delhi currently has about 4.5 lakh commercial vehicles requiring annual fitness certification. However, the only existing ATS in Jhuljhuli in southwest Delhi can accommodate only around 47,919 vehicles per year. The remaining vehicles—including trucks, buses, pick-up vans, goods carriers, and taxis — undergo testing in facilities outside Delhi. The new ATS at Nand Nagri aims to bridge this gap. Officials estimate that the additional centre will generate minimum annual revenue of Rs 3 crore — revenue that presently goes to neighbouring states. The foundation stone ceremony was attended by Delhi transport minister Pankaj Singh and MP Manoj Tiwari. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said the govt is committed to improving road safety, pollution control, and transparency by developing a modern transport system in the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo "This ATS at Nand Nagri will provide much-needed relief to lakhs of vehicle owners in the trans-Yamuna region," she added. Highlighting Delhi's transport statistics, CM said, "Delhi has over 1.53 crore registered vehicles, including about 6.5 lakh commercial vehicles that require annual fitness certification. Currently, only one automated testing station operates at Jhuljhuli, with a capacity to test 47,919 vehicles per year." The new ATS will be fully digital and free from human intervention, ensuring transparency and fairness. It will feature a four-lane system: two lanes for heavy motor vehicles (HMVs), one for light motor vehicles (LMVs), and one for two-wheelers. Advanced testing procedures such as emission testing, roller brakes, suspension inspection (front and rear), underbody inspection, and headlight alignment will be conducted at the centre. With an annual testing capacity of 72,000 vehicles, including 20,000 two-wheelers, the centre is expected to generate Rs 3 crore annually for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). The project cost is estimated at Rs 10 crore. CM Gupta also announced plans for another ATS at the DTC Tehkhand Depot in south-east Delhi to further boost the city's vehicle testing infrastructure.
NDTV
19 hours ago
- NDTV
Rekha Gupta Meets Nirmala Sitharaman, Centre Approves Rs 600 Crore For Delhi
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and secured an assurance of Rs 600 crore under the Centre's Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Finance's office, was focused on Delhi's current development needs, the progress of existing schemes, and areas requiring urgent intervention. According to the Chief Minister's office, Ms Gupta briefed the Union Minister on issues such as urban infrastructure, traffic congestion, green energy, and drainage systems. According to CM Gupta, the Finance Minister responded positively and agreed to release Rs 600 crore under the SASCI scheme by the end of July, subject to a formal proposal from the Delhi government. Officials from both the central and state finance departments were attended the meeting. "Delhi's development is a shared responsibility and the Union Government has assured its continued support," CM Gupta said after the meeting with Niramala Sitharaman. The funds are expected to be used for bolstering capital expenditure in key sectors. These may include road and drainage infrastructure, solid waste management, and clean energy initiatives. CM Gupta called the meeting an example of "cooperative federalism in practice." She added that the SASCI funds would be used to speed up pending development work across the city. SASCI scheme, was launched in 2020–21, provides 50-year interest-free loans to states and union territories to support capital investment. The scheme aims to spur infrastructure growth and create jobs, especially in the post-pandemic economic context.
