Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launches Arpan Kendra cloth donation drive at 5 Metro stations
Synopsis
Delhi has turned its Metro network into a textile recycling grid. With Arpan Kendras now live at five stations — and five more planned — Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's initiative pairs a QR-based donation system with women's self-help group employment, making Metro commuters the front line of the capital's sustainability push.
Key Takeaways
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta inaugurated Arpan Kendra cloth donation centres on 4 August 2025 at Punjabi Bagh West Metro Station .
First phase covers 5 stations : Shalimar Bagh, Punjabi Bagh West, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Shahdara, and Rohini West; total rollout targets 10 stations .
Donations are processed via a QR code-based digital system with automatic digital receipts for donors.
Women's self-help groups will operate the centres and handle garment segregation, recycling, and upcycling.
The initiative is a collaboration between the DMRC and the Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organisation , backed by a signed MoU .
The concept was introduced on 3 May 2025 .
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, 4 August 2025, inaugurated the Arpan Kendra — an old clothes donation centre — at Punjabi Bagh West Metro Station, marking the first-phase rollout of a city-wide textile recycling initiative across five major Delhi Metro stations. The programme, conceived on 3 May, is being executed in collaboration with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organisation.
Key Developments
As part of the first phase, Arpan Kendras were simultaneously launched at Shalimar Bagh, Punjabi Bagh West, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Shahdara, and Rohini West Metro stations. The initiative will eventually cover 10 major Delhi Metro stations in total. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed between the partnering organisations.
How the Donation System Works
Textile collection-cum-sale kiosks have been set up at each selected station, where citizens can drop off usable old garments. The entire donation process has been made digital through a QR code-based system, under which donors receive a digital receipt upon contributing — a transparency measure designed to encourage wider public participation. Chief Minister Gupta observed the QR code system in operation during the inauguration.
Women's Self-Help Groups at the Centre
One of the defining features of the Arpan Kendra model is the active participation of women's self-help groups, who will manage centre operations and handle the collection, segregation, recycling, and upcycling of donated garments. Gupta described this as creating 'new opportunities for dignified livelihoods and self-employment,' positioning the initiative as an integrated model of environmental conservation and women's empowerment.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing the gathering, Gupta said that building a Viksit Delhi is 'not just about constructing roads, bridges and Metro lines, but also about responsible citizens, respect for resources and a collective commitment to protecting the environment.' She added that recycling old clothes is 'not merely a way to reduce waste but also an effective means of conserving water, energy and natural resources,' and that every donated garment 'can contribute to environmental protection while also bringing a positive change in the life of someone in need.'
Who Attended
The inauguration was attended by Madipur MLA Kailash Gangwal, DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar, Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organisation president Shalini Singh, and other senior officials and dignitaries. The second phase, covering the remaining five Metro stations, is expected to follow as the programme scales up across the capital.
Point of View
Women's employment, and urban sustainability) through a single infrastructure already visited by millions daily. The QR-based receipt system is a meaningful accountability layer, though the real test will be whether donation volumes justify scaling to all 10 stations and whether the self-help group livelihoods created are sustained beyond the launch phase. Delhi's textile waste problem is significant, and Metro footfall gives this scheme a distribution advantage that standalone collection drives rarely have. Whether it moves the needle depends on execution consistency, not inauguration optics.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Arpan Kendra initiative in Delhi?
Arpan Kendra is an old clothes donation and recycling programme launched by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in collaboration with the DMRC and the Delhi Metro Ladies Welfare Organisation. Citizens can donate usable garments at textile kiosks set up at select Delhi Metro stations, with the process managed digitally via QR codes.
Which Metro stations have Arpan Kendras in the first phase?
The first phase covers five stations: Shalimar Bagh, Punjabi Bagh West, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Shahdara, and Rohini West. The programme is planned to expand to 10 major Delhi Metro stations in total.
How does the QR code donation system work?
Donors bring usable old garments to the textile kiosk at a participating Metro station and complete the donation through a QR code scan. They receive a digital receipt confirming their contribution, making the process transparent and trackable.
How are women's self-help groups involved in Arpan Kendra?
Women's self-help groups are central to the operation of each Arpan Kendra. They manage centre activities and handle the collection, segregation, recycling, and upcycling of donated garments, generating livelihood and self-employment opportunities in the process.
When was the Arpan Kendra concept introduced?
The concept was introduced on 3 May 2025. The first-phase inauguration at five Delhi Metro stations took place on 4 August 2025, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta officiating at Punjabi Bagh West Metro Station.
