SIX MONTHS ON, CAPITAL AWAITS CHANGE

As the dust of the initial months of BJP govt settles, the picture that emerges is one of achievements and missed opportunities that will define the course of governance in the years ahead, reports city team

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THE honeymoon period of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Delhi has drawn to a close as it completes six months in office this August. The saffron party formed government I in the capital after a gap of 27 years, riding on a wave of anti-incumbency against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which held its sway for a decade. The BJP's campaign was built on ambitious promises to overhaul Delhi's crumbling infrastructure, restore faith in public services, and deliver the kind of large-scale development that the capital has long demanded.

BJP leaders spoke of nothing short of a transformation cleaner air, faster buses, better hospitals, and a capital city that would finally match its global aspirations. Half a year later, however, the results are mixed at best. From tackling pollution and pushing for electric mobility to addressing water shortage, health infrastructure gaps, and the crisis of public transport, its performance has been under close scrutiny.

However, the city still gasps under pollution, hospitals remain understaffed, and the much-hyped electric mobility drive struggles with delays.

The new dispensation finds itself not only in the shadow of AAP's legacy but also under pressure to prove that its promises were not just another round of slogans.

Capital's bus fleet shrinks as EV policy stuck in limbo

Over the past eighteen months, Delhi has seen a significant decline in its CNG bus fleet, with over 2,400 buses decommissioned-including 553 from DIMTS and 452 from the DTC just last week-due to expired permits and ageing infrastructure.

Another 1,700 CNG buses are expected to be phased out by March 2026, as their operational permission lapses.

This reduction has brought the total number of running CNG buses down to just 2,920 - less than half of what was on the roads at the start of 2024.