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Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: Flyover repaired ahead of G20 develops cracks
In the heart of the Capital, just metres away from some of its most powerful institutions, the Ranjit Singh Flyover on Barakhamba Road —an arterial stretch connecting New Delhi and Old Delhi— has fallen into a state of alarming disrepair. Its pock-marked surface, missing concrete panels, broken noise barriers and open urination spots paint a grim picture, especially given its proximity to luxury hotels, corporate offices and political party headquarters. Damage on Ranjit Singh Flyover on Thursday. (Sanchit Khanna/ HT Photo) The deterioration comes just three years after the flyover was repaired and beautified ahead of the G20 Summit. The sharp contrast between its current condition and the city's ongoing month-long sanitation drive has raised concerns about the sustainability of infrastructure maintenance and civic hygiene in one of Delhi's most prominent areas. The 900-metre flyover begins at Barakhamba Road and connects to areas such as Ramlila Maidan, Zakir Hussain College, Delhi Gate and Turkman Gate. Once a key corridor for smooth cross-city travel, it has now become a bumpy, jarring ride, especially in the monsoon, as water seeps into cracks and deepens surface damage. During a spot check on Thursday, HT found that most of the progress made in 2022-23 has been lost. The road surface is fractured, the noise barriers have gaping holes, and many of the concrete covers on the central verge are either broken or missing. The stretch over the railway tracks, opposite the BJP headquarters—once decked out to mark 75 years of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav—has now turned into an open urinal. Commuters and residents say the neglect is not just an eyesore, but a safety hazard. 'The condition of the flyover is not good. There are multiple potholes on the northern end. I have seen people fall and get injured,' said Mohammed Zia, 31, who works at a clinic nearby. 'The road surface is uneven, and certain sections are higher or lower than the rest.' Jai Prakash Malhotra, 68, who uses the flyover daily to reach his medical shop, echoed the concern. 'It's full of bumps. Repairs have been done several times, but nothing has improved. The top surface is still uneven, and the potholes keep coming back.' Shashi Kant, 48, a shop owner near the flyover, said that while some parts have been patched up in the past, long stretches remain riddled with potholes—especially near the entry points. 'Repairs should be carried out again, but properly this time,' he said. Built in 1982 during the Asian Games, the flyover has undergone patchy repairs over the years. In 2018, ahead of the inauguration of the BJP headquarters on Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, civic agencies repainted the railings and installed view-cutters. In 2022, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) undertook a major revamp, replacing expansion joints, bearings, crash barriers and railings. The road surface was also re-laid to ensure a smoother commute. A further round of beautification was carried out in May 2023, when Union home minister Amit Shah virtually inaugurated installations including LED lighting and national flags set up at a cost of ₹2 crore. The estimated cost of the 2022-23 repair work was around ₹4 crore. Before that, the last substantial overhaul was in 2000. The long-standing demand for thorough renovation, especially from regular commuters, is back on the table—with many questioning how long a ₹6 crore facelift can last if upkeep is this short-lived. A senior NDMC official acknowledged the issue and said that the repair work will be carried out in the coming days. On open urination, the official said that it is a problem across Delhi. 'We will try to ensure cleanliness and raise awareness in the area,' the official added.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delhi breathes its cleanest July air in 10 years
New Delhi Till 5.30pm on Wednesday, the Safdarjung weather station clocked 15mm of rainfall. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) Propelled by regular rainfall on 23 of 31 days this month, the Capital has recorded its cleanest air for the month of July over the past 10 years, according to data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Until July 30, the monthly average air quality index (AQI) has been 79, which is classified as 'satisfactory', according to CPCB's categorisation. The average AQI in July 2024 was 96, and in July 2023, it was 83.67. To be sure, CPCB began calculating AQI from April 2015. CPCB classifies AQI between 0 and 50 as 'good', between 51 and 100 as 'satisfactory', between 101 and 200 as 'moderate', between 201 and 300 as 'poor', between 301 and 400 as 'very poor', and over 400 as 'severe'. The highest AQI average in July was 145.64, recorded in 2016. The average AQI for July in 2022 was 87.29; 110.06 in 2021; 83.80 in 2020; 134 in 2019; 103.83 in 2018; 98.39 in 2017; and 138.13 in 2015. In July 2025, until the 30th, Delhi recorded 28 'satisfactory' air days and two 'moderate' air days. The best AQI recorded this month was 51—on the brink of good air—on July 15, and the worst was 136, recorded on July 26. In July 2024, Delhi recorded 14 'moderate' air days and 17 'satisfactory' air days, with the highest AQI, at 138, recorded on July 11. The lowest AQI recorded in July last year was 56, clocked between July 8 and 9. Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, on July 23, said that Delhi was on its way to record its cleanest July in a decade. He had said, 'This is not a seasonal blip — it is the result of Delhi's multi-agency implementation model, continuous landfill action, intensified sweeping operations, and a clear commitment to outcome-based governance.' Providing data on the same, officials had also said that Delhi had been witnessing a major turnaround in its air quality, with 2025 already having clocked 118 days of 'good', 'satisfactory' or 'moderate' air quality — matching the total number recorded in all of 2024, as of July 23. However, experts remained sceptical. Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert and executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, said, 'The overall improvement in air quality is certainly a reflection of meteorological conditions. As it is, the pollution levels go down during the monsoon months due to the wash-out effect, whereby pollutants dissipate because of heavy showers. This year, we have observed frequent spells of intense rain, which have certainly played a role.' Regarding the government's contribution to the same, Roychowdhury said, 'We do not have all the emissions data to be able to make this comparison within such a limited time period. The monsoon season would not be the correct time to make such an assessment. We have to see how the pollution levels bounce back in the winter months to see if actions taken by the government are progressing in the right direction.' July has already received rainfall in excess of the long-period average. The Safdarjung weather station, Delhi's base station that is representative of the city's weather, has recorded a total of 220.2mm of rainfall as of 8.30am on Wednesday, against the long period average of 209.7mm. Till 5.30pm on Wednesday, the Safdarjung weather station clocked 15mm of rainfall, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Other parts of the city received light to moderate rainfall as well, with forecasts by IMD predicting similar weather conditions to continue for the next few days. The Palam weather station recorded 4.6mm of rainfall in the 24 hours till 8.30am on Wednesday and 28.3mm of rainfall between 8.30am and 5.30pm. In the same time intervals, the Pusa station recorded 37.5mm of rainfall and 12.5mm of rainfall, respectively. The Janakpuri station received 11.5mm of rainfall in the late afternoon. 'Light to moderate is likely to continue on Thursday as well. Following that, we might observe very light to light rain from Friday onwards, accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning,' said an IMD official.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
72 trees to be transplanted as construction of Pune Police commissionerate's HQ begins
PUNE: While the Pune Police Commissionerate is currently constructing a green-compliant, state-of-the-art headquarters at the existing campus near Sadhu Vaswani Mission, the police have clarified that most of the 72 trees at the premises, many of them nearly a century old, will be transplanted rather than felled to clear space for construction of the new building. Only exotic or commercially non-native species will be razed and that too, after obtaining due permission from the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC's) tree authority committee. New Delhi, India - Aug. 21, 2018: The Ber sports a dense, spread-out crown and is said to be part of Delhi's native range of trees. It has been cultivated for its fruit in India for a very long time. Here seen in Hauz Khas, it is also found on Aurobindo Marg, the Qutub compound and in Shalimar Bagh. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna / Hindustan Times) **For Saturday (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) Speaking on the ecological concerns, additional commissioner (administration) Sanjay Patil, said, 'A decision on the transplantation of 72 trees will be taken after a meeting with the PMC's tree authority. These trees will be transplanted to the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) campus at Wanawadi. Only commercial and exotic species will be cut with the civic body's permission.' The Commissionerate is currently home to 72 trees, many of them nearly a century old. The new development, though modern in scope, aims to be mindful of the legacy. Moreover, the upcoming building has received green building certification and is architecturally modelled on the Pune Collectorate. The new building will house offices for both senior and junior police officials, organised across multiple floors based on the police hierarchy. Key branches to be accommodated include the crime branch, special branch, foreign citizen registration, photography and fingerprint unit, general administration and the Commissionerate headquarters. These units will be strategically distributed within the building to ensure efficient workflow and accessibility. In addition to operational offices, the facility will feature several modern amenities aimed at enhancing service delivery and staff welfare. The building will also prioritise accessibility and sustainability, incorporating disabled-friendly access points, a solar power system, and a sewage treatment plant. Furthermore, ample parking space will be available to accommodate both staff and visitors. Designed in a T-shaped layout, the new headquarters will consist of a ground floor and five upper floors, with plans already approved by a high-powered committee led by the Maharashtra chief secretary. While the Pune police had proposed a budget of ₹242.99 crore, the state government has sanctioned ₹193.80 crore for the first phase of construction. To begin work, demolition of the peripheral offices excluding the historic main building started in March 2025. The new structure is expected to be completed within two to three years. During the construction period, essential departments including the control room, CCTV monitoring unit, and other operational offices have been temporarily relocated to the Shivajinagar police headquarters. The commissioner's office itself will soon be shifted to a private rented facility nearby to ensure continuity of operations.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
DU allocates 24k fresh seats in second UG round; teachers flag syllabus delay
The Delhi University (DU) on Monday released the second list of undergraduate seat allocations, offering fresh seats to over 24,000 students. According to official data, the university made a total of 87,335 allocations in the second round—includes upgrades, freezes, and new allocations—with 24,843 being fresh ones. New Delhi, India - September 15, 2021: A view inside Delhi University after DDMA allowed it to reopen, at North Campus, in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) 'A total of 27,314 candidates have upgraded to a higher preference, while 17,922 have opted to freeze their allocations from the first round,' a university official said. The first allocation list, released on July 19, had seen 93,166 seats allotted against 71,624 available seats across 69 colleges. By the end of the first round, 62,565 students had confirmed their admissions under the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS), including 34,014 females and 28,551 males. The window for candidates to accept their freshly allocated seats opened at 5pm on Monday and will remain open until 4.59pm on Wednesday. DU's new academic session is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 1. Teachers say syllabi not yet uploaded Even as the second round of admissions progressed, several DU professors expressed concern that syllabus of some departments for the first batch of students under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework(UGCF) as well as syllabi of certain departments under Postgraduate Curriculum Framework (PGCF) have not yet been uploaded on the university website. 'This leaves both teachers and students unprepared. We still don't have the final syllabus, and to teach a subject well, we need time to develop materials, which involves significant research,' said Mithuraaj Dhusiya, elected member of the executive council. 'So, while the academic session may formally begin on August 1, effective teaching will begin at a much later stage.' Abha Dev Habib, associate professor at Miranda House, said, 'The university has not yet notified syllabi passed in EC meetings held on May 23 and July affects thousands of students entering in the fourth year or seeking PG admissions. The callousness of the university shows that it has scant respect for students, teachers and the learning processes.' University officials, however, maintained that the syllabi will be uploaded in time. 'We're ensuring that all feedback from academic and executive council meetings is incorporated into the final syllabi,' DU registrar Vikas Gupta told HT. 'For instance, a committee finalised the Physics syllabus this week, and it will be uploaded by Wednesday.' A senior university official added that once the executive council minutes are approved, the council branch issues the official notification, and departments are required to reformat the syllabi to ensure uniformity across courses.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
CM SHRI Schools to admit students to Classes 6-8 via merit test, says DoE
The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) will begin accepting applications from July 30 for admissions to classes 6, 7 and 8 in 33 of its newly branded CM SHRI Schools for the 2025-26 academic session. These seats will be filled through a merit-based test, scheduled to be held on August 30. New Delhi, India - Jan. 22, 2018: A general view of Govt. Co Ed. Senior Secondary School at Laxmi Bai Nagar in New Delhi, India, on Monday, January 22, 2018. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) To Go with Mariyam's Story for Class of 2018 (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) These schools, selected from the existing pool of Delhi government institutions, have been notified as a 'specified category' under the Right to Education Act, 2009, making them eligible to conduct a separate admission process. According to DoE officials, the entrance test will carry 100 multiple-choice questions worth one mark each, to be completed in 150 minutes. The CM SHRI (Schools of Honesty, Responsibility and Innovation) initiative was announced in the 2025-26 Delhi budget with an initial allocation of ₹100 crore to upgrade 60 government schools. The list was later expanded to include 75 schools, with education minister Ashish Sood confirming the number in May. Chief minister Rekha Gupta, in June, said these schools would feature state-of-the-art infrastructure and focus on experiential learning models. 'These schools are designed to nurture talent with modern infrastructure and teaching methods aligned with the National Education Policy,' a DoE official said. The test will be open to Delhi residents currently enrolled in classes 6, 7 or 8 in any recognised school. At least 50% of the seats have been reserved for students from government and aided schools, including those run by the DoE, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. Students from SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), and CWSN categories will receive a 5% concession in qualifying marks. The OMR-based exam will be bilingual and test students on Hindi, English, general awareness, mental ability and numerical aptitude. There will be no negative marking. The syllabus and sample OMR sheets have been uploaded to the DoE website for reference. The application window will remain open till August 15. Admit cards will be issued on August 23, and results are expected on September 10. Admissions must be completed by September 15, the notification said. Of the 1,060 schools currently run by the Delhi government, the 75 selected for CM SHRI status were shortlisted based on readiness for infrastructure and technology upgrades. Applications for the merit test can be submitted online through the DoE website.
