Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the Delhi government is launching the ‘Clean Air, Healthy Delhi’ project to effectively tackle the challenge of air pollution in the capital. This is an ambitious seven-year project by the Environment Department, to be implemented with the support of multilateral institutions, including the World Bank.
Its objective is to accelerate the implementation of Delhi’s air pollution mitigation plan, advance the goals of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), and contribute to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ (Developed India 2047).
CM Rekha Gupta stated that a special workshop would be held on July 10 to finalise preparations for the program and establish coordination among all stakeholders. During this workshop, the roles of various departments and agencies will be defined, and the framework for the program’s effective and timely implementation will be discussed.
She informed that the project would be implemented across all districts of Delhi from September 2026 to August 2033. The total estimated cost is ₹8,300 crore; the World Bank will provide 65 per cent of the financial assistance, while the Delhi government will bear the remaining 35 per cent.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that under this project, comprehensive work will be undertaken in key areas such as transport, road dust, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, solid waste management, industry, green spaces, and water pollution. This is not merely a pollution control plan but a long-term investment aimed at providing Delhi residents with clean air, better public health, and a more sustainable urban environment.
She noted that this ambitious project is based on two key pillars. The first pillar focuses on strengthening air quality management in Delhi. Under this, a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established to ensure the project’s effective operation. Modern air quality monitoring, data analytics, and an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC)-based monitoring system will be developed.
Additionally, better coordination will be established among various departments, collaborative efforts on pollution control will be undertaken with states in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and scientific planning, public awareness, training, and the promotion of new technologies and innovations will be prioritised. The second pillar focuses on reducing emissions from major pollution sources. Under this, old and highly polluting vehicles will be phased out, electric vehicles will be promoted, public transport will be further improved, and a state-of-the-art Pollution Under Control (PUC) system will be developed to monitor vehicular pollution.
According to the Chief Minister, all key departments and agencies of the Delhi government will work together for the successful implementation of the project. These include the Environment Department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Transport Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Delhi Transco Limited (DTL), Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB), DSIIDC, DTIDC, DIMTS, and other relevant bodies. Furthermore, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) of the Government of India and the World Bank will also be key partners in this project.
