CM inaugurates development projects worth Rs 327 cr

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hosted a lunch at her residence, ‘Jan Sewa Sadan’, for slum dwellers on Republic Day and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 327 crore in Jhuggi Jhopri (JJ) clusters. The works worth Rs 144 crore have already been awarded out of the total approved amount, officials said.

Officials shared a detailed breakup of the approved works. Under the public convenience complex component, administrative approval of Rs 225 crore has been granted for 476 projects. Of these, works worth Rs 81 crore covering 214 projects have already been awarded. Similarly, under CC works, administrative approval of Rs 102 crore has been accorded for 254 projects, with tenders worth Rs 63 crore issued for 172 works.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the development works at the Chief Minister’s Jan Seva Sadan by inviting representatives from JJ clusters across Delhi and formally launching the projects through them. The initiatives focus on basic civic infrastructure, including public convenience complexes and cement concrete (CC) works in internal lanes of JJ settlements.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said JJ residents are “partners in Delhi’s development, not a vote bank,” and asserted that her government is committed to improving living conditions in informal settlements. “Workers living in JJ clusters have played a vital role in building Delhi. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the benefits of development reach them first,” she said.

The programme was attended by Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) CEO Rupesh Thakur, senior officials and several women representatives from JJ clusters. The Chief Minister also shared lunch with the JJ representatives, describing the interaction as an important step towards participatory governance.

The Chief Minister said the present government is working with full dedication to uplift JJ clusters and accused the previous dispensation of viewing residents only through an electoral lens. She remarked that while the former leadership lived in luxury, her government has chosen to stand with people facing everyday hardships and to work “day and night” to improve their quality of life.

According to officials, the approved projects include the construction of public convenience complexes and CC roads to improve sanitation, mobility and overall living conditions in JJ areas. A dedicated budget of Rs 700 crore has been allocated by the Delhi government for JJ cluster development, covering basic amenities, housing support, sanitation, health services and social welfare schemes.