Safety can't be reduced to paperwork, says Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta has said the government will make structural audits and periodic safety certification mandatory for PGs, hostels and other public-purpose buildings, following the Satya Niketan building collapse that claimed seven lives.

Speaking to ET, Gupta said immediate structural audits had been ordered in PG hubs and stressed that safety could no longer be reduced to paperwork.

"No unsafe PG or hostel should be allowed to operate, irrespective of who owns it or how long it has been running," Gupta said.


The government has also taken action against five officials following the Satya Niketan tragedy, with responsibility fixed across the administrative chain, from the Junior Engineer to the Deputy Commissioner. The Delhi chief minister said accountability must come before a building collapses and that negligence would have consequences.

Green Delhi Push

Gupta said Delhi was moving towards a time-bound transition to electric mobility, with the government targeting vehicles that operate most frequently on the city's roads.

"Our target is not just a percentage on paper; we have put actual dates on Delhi's transition to electric mobility," she said.

From January 2027, only electric three-wheelers and N1 goods carriers will be newly registered, while from April 2028, only electric two-wheelers will be newly registered. The government is targeting 5,800 e-buses by March 2027 and 12,000 by 2029, alongside 32,000 charging points by 2030.

The government is also pushing rooftop solar. Under the revised Delhi Solar Energy Policy, households consuming up to 400 units a month can get rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW at zero upfront cost. Delhi aims to install systems on 2.3 lakh rooftops and add 500 MW of capacity by March 2027. The policy also provides five years of free maintenance.

Gupta also favours an emission- and fitness-based approach to vehicle restrictions rather than relying solely on age. "Pollution should be judged scientifically, not simply by the date printed on a registration certificate," she said.

Yamuna pollution

On the Yamuna pollution, Gupta said the Delhi government's focus was on stopping untreated sewage from entering the river, with sewage-treatment capacity targeted to rise to 1,500 MGD by 2028. "It will become clean when sewage stops entering it... Hold us to 2028," she said.

Liquor Policy

On the new liquor policy, Gupta said the government would not rush the process.

"Our focus is clear: transparency, strict monitoring, revenue protection, and the public interest," she said, adding that the framework must leave no room for ambiguity, misuse or leakage.