Should Delhi Form an ‘Economic Development Council’?

New Delhi, April 28 (NationPress) BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, reached out to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, advocating for the establishment of a Delhi Economic Development Council aimed at enhancing employment and stimulating economic and industrial activity within the national capital.

In his correspondence to CM Gupta, Khandelwal expressed, “I strongly believe that the formation of such a Council would not only provide a new strategic direction for Delhi's economic trajectory but also be instrumental in making the city self-sufficient in terms of revenue generation.”

He proposed that a specialized body focused on economic growth would facilitate the development of a roadmap to increase employment opportunities in Delhi.

The MP criticized the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration for disrupting the city's economic stability and contributing to a state of policy stagnation.

Khandelwal stated, “Over the last decade, Delhi has experienced a troubling stagnation in economic and trade policy initiatives. Consequently, the city’s trade, industry, and service sectors are confronting substantial challenges.”

“To maintain Delhi's stature among the nation’s foremost metropolises, it is crucial to enact a dedicated and structured economic development strategy. This roadmap would also foster the creation of significant new employment opportunities within Delhi,” he emphasized.

Khandelwal also referred to a Central government report on urban reforms that supports the establishment of economic councils in major cities.

He mentioned that the Finance Ministry is currently evaluating the urban reforms report, stating, “The report submitted by Keshav Verma, Chairman of the Central Government's High-Level Committee on Urban Reforms, underscores the urgent need to unify urban development with economic enhancement and advocates for the formation of City Economic Development Councils in all major cities.”

The MP from Chandni Chowk highlighted the necessity to realign economic strategies in the city, referencing observations from the Keshav Verma panel that recommended adopting brownfield development models.

Brownfield development pertains to redeveloping or repurposing previously used or polluted properties, often industrial or commercial sites, to encourage sustainable land use, urban renewal, and economic prosperity.

Khandelwal pointed out that in cities like Delhi, much of the urban expansion has unfolded without systematic planning, resulting in a fragmented urban landscape.

“Business activities remain concentrated in central areas, even though the residential population has surged in peripheral zones,” he remarked.