At a time when the nation is grieving the loss of lives in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday visited Shalimar Bagh in North-West Delhi to review ongoing development works. Speaking to residents, CM Gupta shared her heartfelt condolences and acknowledged the somber mood across the country.
"There is a wave of sorrow in the country right now," she said during her address. "The whole of Delhi and the country are traumatised (because of terror attack)... In this environment, nobody feels like celebrating or inaugurating projects. We have inspected and initiated projects, but since our hearts are in pain, none of us feels like organising inaugurations. The whole country is mourning. For the last two to three days, we cancelled all our public programs," she added, as residents listened in solidarity.
Despite the heavy atmosphere, the Chief Minister announced a series of critical infrastructure projects aimed at uplifting the living standards in slum areas and underdeveloped neighborhoods. She highlighted initiatives such as pipeline installation to address the water shortage, street and drain construction, road repairs, and general urban development.
"Lack of water is a huge problem for the people of Delhi. To solve that, we have started the work of laying pipelines here. We have also started the work of building streets, drains and pavements in slums. Delhi is moving towards development. This is our effort," CM Gupta said.
Positioning herself as "a family member to every slum resident in Delhi," she emphasized her administration’s dedication to improving basic amenities for the city's most vulnerable communities. Plans for pathway elevation, sanitation improvements, and extensive roadworks were also laid out during her speech.
In a broader regional push, CM Gupta revealed a collaborative effort with multiple agencies, including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Works Department (PWD), and the Haryana Government, to revitalize barren and neglected areas.
"All these issues will be discussed in detail. I have also invited the officers of the DDA, PWD officers, and officials from the Haryana Government. By bringing everyone together on one platform, this discussion will focus on the fact that this barren land has been neglected for years and is in a dire situation, with dust flying and dirt everywhere. This canal has a permanent solution to address this issue. We will try to ensure that people do not have to see the dirt, and for their convenience, roads should be built here, and a clean and tidy environment is created for all to live," she explained.
In a major policy update, Gupta also confirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs has revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, except for medical, diplomatic, and long-term visas, effective April 27, 2025. She further noted that even existing medical visas will become invalid after April 29.
