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After 27 years, people of Delhi have bestowed their faith in BJP in 2025 primarily to improve “quality of life”. BJP won 48 assembly seats against 22 seats of AAP, whereas Congress drew blank.
For BJP, it is now an opportunity to fix the problems that their predecessor Congress and AAP failed to do so. Delhiites want good air quality, cleaner Yamuna and smoother traffic.
BJP must now use this opportunity wisely, they have power both at centre and state, so there is no evading of responsibility and accountability.
Fix air quality
Basis the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) study PM2.5 pollutants in Delhi grew by 3.4% in 2024, marking a second consecutive year of growth. This is not an aberration due to environmental changes but gradual rise in overall pollution.
The study highlights that during the month of October 2024, pollution from stubble burning accounted for just 4.4%, whereas Delhi’s local sources like vehicles, factories, construction etc. accounted for 31%. This what BJP needs to fix, not the stubble burning which anyways is coming down.
BJP needs to come up with systematic measures and take decisions which may seem uncomfortable in beginning but could provide long-term respite. The party needs to work with all stakeholders including municipalities, government of neighbouring states, environmentalists, construction companies, and residents to implement solutions.
Delhi people need their basic right to healthy and clean air, and now the onus is on BJP to provide the same.
Fix toxic Yamuna
Many successive governments of the past including Congress and AAP have tried to clean Yamuna but failed.
Prime Minister in his celebratory speech promised Delhiites that BJP would leave no stone unturned to clean Yamuna, just like we cleaned river Ganga. However, truth be told, Ganga continue to be toxic across many part of the country.
Spoken words often means nothing unless backed by action. Just allocating money for cleaning purposes is easy, making its efficient use and ensuring timely completion of projects are critical. BJP stalwarts are making bold promises not realising that problems are manifold.
Basis standing committee report on water resources published in Feb 2024, 28 industrial clusters discharge their wastewater in Yamuna, untreated wastewater discharged by municipalities cause 80% of river’s pollution and foam, illegal sand mining is causing river bed erosion, and there is excessive use of fertilizers at Yamuna bank soil.
Fix traffic congestion
There was a time when Delhi was scoring way above Mumbai in terms of traffic and road infrastructure. Now, Delhiites who travel to Mumbai often know this is no longer the case. Mumbai is creating expansive road networks via sea to decongest its traffic.
Basis a study conducted by IIT Madras, Delhi would lose 98,000 crore in productivity cost by 2030 due to traffic congestion. Despite vast metro connectivity and local buses, Delhi’s vehicular traffic is not improving.
Widening of roads, installing smart traffic management systems, and improving traffic discipline among citizens are some of the immediate requirements. However, BJP elected CM must work in coordination with Road Ministry to come up with a more robust, comprehensive and long-term solution for traffic congestion.
It must be noted that Delhi’s population will continue to rise and so are the vehicles on the road. Life is too short to be wasted in traffic.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint