Women's Safety To Sanitation: Key Areas Of Focus In Delhi Budget 2025

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the Budget 2025-26 in the state Assembly on March 25. This is the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party government's first budget for the national capital. The government has allocated ₹1 lakh-crore this fiscal year, focusing on key sectors and goals, including women's safety, infrastructure, education, and sanitation. 

CM Gupta termed it as a "historic" budget, stating the days of "corruption and inefficiency" were over. Ahead of her presentation, Delhi Assembly speaker Vijender Gupta also expressed confidence in the fiscal plans. "Today is going to be a new beginning... I congratulate my government. This budget will live up to the expectations of people," he said.

Key Points Discussed

CM Rekha Gupta announced her government's first budget before the Assembly. She stated that the capital expenditure budget has been boosted to ₹28,000 crore.

• This fiscal year, the Delhi government has allocated ₹5,100 crore to the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, under which each eligible woman is entitled to ₹2,500 per month. The motive of the program is to uplift and support women entrepreneurs from marginalised backgrounds.
• To ensure safety in the national capital, the Delhi government will install 50,000 surveillance cameras across the city.
• ₹2,144 crore has been allocated for the PM Jan Arogya Yojna (Ayushman Bharat), a program that aims to provide accessible healthcare to all.
• The government also put a strong spotlight on education, allocating ₹100 crore to new 'CM Shri' schools. About 1,200 students passing class 12 exams will also reportedly get free laptops.
• CM Gupta announced that ₹100 crore in this year's budget has been allocated for the setting up of 100 Atal Canteens across the national capital. These canteens promise nutritional meals at about ₹5 for underprivileged people.
• The Delhi government has allocated a fund of ₹210 crore for expecting mothers to provide them with nutrient kits and an allowance of ₹21,000.
• CM Gupta also announced that the national capital will host the International Film Festival, allocating ₹30 crore.
• ₹696 crore has been fixed for the development of slum clusters and JJ colonies in Delhi, CM Rekha Gupta said.
• To achieve improved connectivity in Delhi and the National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR), the government has allocated ₹1,000 crore. Also, ₹3843 crores are allocated for road and bridge infrastructure, CM Gupta stated. 
• The Delhi government has allocated ₹9,000 crore to sanitation and clean drinking water.
• The Rekha Gupta government aims to clean the River Yamuna, with ₹500 crore allocated for this. CM Gupta announced that only treated water will enter the river via the decentralisation of 40 sewer treatment plants (STPs).
• CM Gupta announced that the budget has set aside ₹500 crore to repair and upgrade STPs and ₹250 crore for the replacement of old sewer lines across Delhi.
• ₹300 crore has been allocated to curb pollution. ₹506 crore has been allocated to the environment and forest departments.
• The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been allocated a budget of ₹6,897 crore this year.