DELHI (national capital territory)

Delhi is set to tackle its chronic waterlogging issues with the construction of newly designed U-shaped storm water drains along key city roads. The pilot project, developed with input from experts at IIT Roorkee and IIT Delhi, will cover roads in Model Town-2, Model Town-3, and Kushal Cinema Road. The total project will create approximately 17 kilometers of storm water drains, with an estimated cost of ₹122.65 crore. Officials aim to complete the work within five months, ensuring roads remain free of water accumulation during the monsoon season. PWD officers explained that the initiative follows international best practices, where precast U-shaped drains are installed along roadsides to efficiently channel rainwater. The precast design allows for quick on-site installation and preci...

Tihar Jail has been without a chief for the past two days following the retirement of Director General S.B.K. Singh on January 31. The question now on everyone’s mind is: who will be the next DG? Speculation has been rife for the past week, and discussions among senior officials suggest several potential candidates from Delhi Police are in contention. Typically, the government issues the notification for the Tihar DG before the incumbent retires. However, this time, no official announcement has been made even two days after Singh’s retirement, leaving the jail administration eagerly awaiting directions. Among the frontrunners is IPS Ravindra Singh Yadav (1995 batch), whose retirement is due in March 2028. He is considered the leading candidate for the DG position. Another name under ...

In a bid to enhance the safety of schoolchildren in Delhi, authorities are set to develop Safe School Zones around schools located on busy roads. The initiative will begin in the Najafgarh district, where the Traffic Police have directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to implement safety measures around the Government Boys Senior Secondary School No. 2. Under the plan, a 500-meter stretch on both sides of the road—from Shivaji Marg T-Junction to a nearby private hospital—will be redesigned to ensure safe pedestrian movement for students. The area encompasses 10–12 schools with an estimated 8,000–10,000 children, making it one of the busiest school clusters in the district. PWD officials said the project will include road redesigning, wider footpaths, regulated vehicle speeds, spee...

Rail passengers in Delhi are set to experience faster and smoother journeys, as several key railway projects are poised to move ahead following a historic increase in the Delhi Railway budget for 2026-27. The capital’s rail network has been allocated ₹2,711 crore in the Union Budget, marking a nearly 28-fold increase compared to the average annual budget of ₹96 crore during 2009–2014. Railway officials said the New Yamuna Bridge is almost ready and will soon be opened for passengers, improving connectivity between East and Central Delhi. This is expected to significantly ease rail traffic across these regions. Meanwhile, redevelopment work at New Delhi Railway Station is ongoing. Authorities assured that train operations and passenger movement will remain unaffected, with careful pla...

In a major boost to Delhi’s water management, the Regha Gupta government has announced the construction of a state-of-the-art water treatment plant at Chandrawal, with a capacity of 105 million gallons per day (MGD) and a total investment of ₹599 crore. The plant is expected to become operational later this year, addressing water shortages and reducing wastage across the capital. Chief Minister Regha Gupta, during a high-level review meeting of the Delhi Jal Board on Monday, emphasized that the project will significantly strengthen Delhi’s water supply system, particularly ahead of the summer season. Water Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh and senior officials were also present at the meeting. The new Chandrawal plant will serve an area of approximately 92 square kilometers, covering near...

During the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal expressed concern over the rampant overcharging by private hospitals under the pretext of medical treatment. She urged the government to implement the Clinical Establishment Act across all states, ensure emergency treatment is provided before billing, and promote transparent billing practices in private healthcare facilities. Speaking in the Upper House on Monday, Maliwal highlighted the financial burden faced by ordinary families when seeking treatment in private hospitals. “Today, when a patient visits a private hospital in an emergency, families often have to mortgage their home and jewelry to afford care,” she said. She added that hospitals first inquire about medical insurance, and once coverage is confir...

New Delhi, Feb 2:Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday described the Union Budget 2026–27 as a strong step towards a developed and self-reliant India. Speaking at a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, she said the budget not only boosts economic stability but also ensures social balance, opening new avenues for India’s capital. CM Gupta expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a forward-looking and balanced budget that addresses the needs of the common citizen. She also acknowledged Home Minister Amit Shah for his continued support to Delhi in maintaining law and order and effective administration. Three Pillars of the BudgetThe Chief Minister noted that the budget is based on three key principles: ...

New Delhi: A confrontation between police personnel and a local woman in Geeta Colony, Shahdara, escalated into a physical altercation on Sunday night, leading to injuries and a case being registered against the woman. According to police sources, around 8:15 PM, Head Constable Ankur and Constable Javed, posted at Geeta Colony police station, were patrolling on foot along Pushta Road near Safeda Jhuggi. During their patrol, they noticed a group of suspicious young men near Rupa, the wife of a declared local criminal, Salman alias Kalu. Police had previously received information regarding Rupa’s involvement in drug-related activities. When the officers began questioning the men, Rupa allegedly became aggressive, verbally abusing the police despite repeated attempts to calm her. As Hea...

New Delhi: The Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate has claimed responsibility for an attack targeting alleged ISI operative Shahzad Bhatti in Portugal. In a post on social media, the gang warned that those speaking against the nation will not be spared, no matter where in the world they are. According to the gang, masked shooters on motorcycles carried out the attack at Bhatti’s residence. It remains unclear whether Bhatti was killed or injured. Portuguese authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. The attack comes two months after India’s Delhi Police Special Cell uncovered Bhatti’s expanding network within India and arrested three of his associates in connection with a grenade attack at a police station in Gurdaspur, Punjab. In a social media post on Su...

New Delhi: Identifying depression may soon go beyond traditional questionnaires and tests. Researchers at AIIMS Delhi have revealed that a person’s voice can provide significant clues about their mental health. A study conducted at the AIIMS Speech Health Lab shows that speech analysis can detect early signs of depression with remarkable accuracy. AI and CSR Support in Mental Health ResearchAccording to Dr. Nand Kumar from the Psychiatry Department, AIIMS developed a state-of-the-art Speech Health Lab with CSR support from Coal India Limited (CIL). Using AI-based analysis, the lab examines linguistic and emotional cues in speech to identify early indicators of depression. Over the past two years, the lab studied 423 participants, analyzing their speech samples alongside mental health as...