Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu on Tuesday, 7 July joined Union Home Minister Amit Shah for a series of environmental and infrastructure initiatives aimed at building a cleaner, greener National Capital — reaffirming the Centre's long-term commitment to Delhi's ecological and civic transformation in line with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.

Ridge Restoration Campaign Launched

Home Minister Amit Shah formally launched the Delhi Ridge Ecological Restoration Campaign with a plantation drive at the Central Ridge and Nanakpura Ridge. The campaign is framed around Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' and is described as Bharat's largest urban eco-restoration programme. It aims to restore over 6,300 hectares of degraded Ridge forests through the plantation of more than 1 crore native saplings.

Also present at the events were Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, Minister of State H.D. Malhotra, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

11 New E-Buses Flagged Off

In a parallel push for clean public transport, Home Minister Shah flagged off 11 new electric buses to bolster Delhi's green mobility network. The move is part of the Centre's broader effort to reduce vehicular emissions in one of the world's most polluted capital cities. Delhi's air quality has been a persistent concern, particularly through winter months when particulate levels routinely breach safe limits.

New Infrastructure Inaugurated

The day's initiatives extended beyond environment. Shah inaugurated the Automatic Vehicle Testing Station at Nand Nagri along with three newly developed vehicle depots, adding to Delhi's transport infrastructure. He also laid the foundation stone for a High Security Prison at Narela, a facility intended to ease chronic overcrowding across Delhi's existing jails.

What the L-G Said

Lieutenant Governor Sandhu shared details of the day's events in a post on X, describing the initiatives as 'transformative' and reflective of the Centre's 'unwavering commitment to Delhi.' He characterised the Ridge restoration campaign as 'a defining milestone in Delhi's environmental journey' and linked it to the broader national goal of a developed, climate-resilient India by 2047.

Significance and What Comes Next

The Ridge — a forested spine running through Delhi — has faced decades of encroachment and degradation. Restoring 6,300 hectares through native species would represent a significant ecological intervention, though environment groups have previously noted that sapling survival rates and long-term monitoring remain critical success factors. The campaign's scale and political backing signal that Delhi's green agenda is being repositioned as a Centre-led priority ahead of the city's ongoing governance transition.