NITI Aayog council meet: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta presents Viksit Delhi model
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday, 11 June presented the national capital's development blueprint and its contribution to Viksit Bharat@2047 at the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister laid out a sector-by-sector account of schemes spanning education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare, positioning Delhi as a key driver of India's transformation agenda.
Delhi's Role in Viksit Bharat
Chief Minister Gupta argued that national development cannot be measured by economic and technological metrics alone — the capability and productivity of citizens are equally defining. She described Delhi as a 'strong engine' powering the country's broader transformation, and said her government is making sustained efforts to build a 'Viksit Delhi' in alignment with the Centre's 2047 vision.
She also conveyed greetings on behalf of Delhi's residents on the completion of PM Modi's 12-year tenure, acknowledging that the Central government has, in her words, consistently supported Delhi's development regardless of the prevailing political climate.
Infrastructure and Transport Highlights
A headline figure from the presentation: road infrastructure worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore is being developed in Delhi with Central assistance. The Chief Minister also noted that Delhi's Metro network has expanded to nearly 500 kilometres, making it larger than the combined metro networks of all other Indian states.
On transport safety, three new automated testing stations are being developed for fitness testing of commercial vehicles — part of a broader push to modernise the sector.
Yamuna Restoration and Inter-State Coordination
Chief Minister Gupta shared that under PM Modi's guidance, a special coordination team has been constituted with neighbouring states to address the Yamuna river's uninterrupted flow and tackle its severe pollution problem. The team, she said, has already begun working in a structured manner, transcending political differences — a notable development given the historically contentious water-sharing disputes in the region.
Social Welfare and Women's Empowerment Initiatives
Among the welfare schemes highlighted, the Delhi government has launched a programme to provide free bicycles to girl students in government schools, aimed at reducing the dropout rate at the Class 9 level. A new initiative called 'Samarth' has been launched for the transformation of Anganwadi centres, built on six pillars: Creche, Nutrition, Education, Family Participation, and women's socio-economic empowerment.
The government also announced plans to launch Mahila Haat Outlets (Rani Haat) — permanent marketing platforms for products made by women from shelter homes and self-help groups — to improve market access for women-led enterprises.
Administrative Reforms and Digital Governance
On the governance front, the Chief Minister said e-file systems and complete digitalisation have been rolled out across the Delhi government. New Control and Command Centres have been established, and officials are being trained under the Mission Karmayogi framework. These reforms, she indicated, are intended to improve service delivery and administrative efficiency across departments.
The NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting serves as the apex body for cooperative federalism, bringing together all Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors to align state and Central development priorities — making Delhi's presentation a signal of the BJP-led government's intent to showcase the capital as a model for other states.