Govt spends only 36% of budget in 6 months of fiscal; capex at 31%

The Delhi government has spent just 36% of its total budgeted expenditure in the first six months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, with capital expenditure - meant for long-term infrastructure and asset creation - lagging even further at 31%, according to officials aware of the matter.

- Snehil Sinha

The figures, discussed at a review meeting chaired by chief secretary Rajeev Verma last week, have triggered concern over the sluggish pace of spending and project execution.

According to officials who were part of the meeting, Verma directed all departments to fast-track project approvals and ensure the timely execution of schemes.

"The chief secretary has emphasised that every department must focus on time-bound completion of projects while removing administrative and procedural bottlenecks. He said that daily monitoring of expenditure should become the norm," an official present at the meeting said.