State

The Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to take strict action against illegal vendors and encroachments in the Mandawali area, which have been causing severe inconvenience to residents and commuters. Heavy congestion and traffic jams have become a daily issue on the main road due to these encroachments. Justice Amit Bansal has given the MCD and the Public Works Department (PWD) four weeks to submit a status report on the action taken. The next hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2026. During the January 23 hearing, the Special Task Force lawyer informed the court that the MCD had not yet taken any measures against the encroachments. The case was filed by advocate Jay Chaudhary on behalf of local residents, through advocates Utkarsh Soni and Siddharth...

As technology use rises, so do online frauds—and a recent case in Delhi serves as a stark warning. A man lost ₹4 lakh after clicking a fake traffic challan link sent to his mobile. The victim received a WhatsApp message claiming he had a pending ₹1,000 traffic fine and included a link that appeared to be from the Ministry of Transport. Trusting the message, he downloaded the application, but no challan details appeared. Soon after, he noticed suspicious activity on his online shopping accounts, and an email alert confirmed that his e-wallet password had been changed without his permission. His registered email ID was also altered by an unknown address. Within minutes, he received multiple SMS alerts from banks about five unauthorized credit card transactions, totaling approximately ₹...

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...