Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Delhi officially referred to as the National Capital Territory (NCT), has a long-standing history of serving as the seat of power for ruling dynasties in ancient and medieval times, and as the imperial capital of the British in India. From labyrinths of narrow lanes lined with various places of worship, bustling bazaars, and street food vendors in Old Delhi to the British-style capital city of New Delhi constituting spacious green avenues with imposing government buildings, Delhi is a microcosm of diversity. Politically speaking, the city is also a union territory which is usually governed by the Union Government. However, Delhi is an exception to this rule and has its own elected government, currently, the Aam Admi Party (AAP).
Proximity to Delhi has led to infrastructure developments in suburban districts like Gurugram and Noida which have emerged as major hotspots for employment, investments, and housing. A spatial analysis of the region recorded a shift in economic activity from the core of Delhi to suburban NCR. Experts stress the need for comprehensive inter-regional planning for consolidation of the economic potential of the region.
In addition to air pollution, the capital city stands at the forefront of climate-change-induced disasters manifested in the form of scorching heat waves every year to recent floods that left the city at a standstill. The Yamuna River flowing through the city exposes it to floodplain risks. Projected to be the most populous city by 2035, the city faces mammoth challenges like unchecked urbanization, pollution, and infrastructural and financial losses due to climate change.
Delhi-NCR’s urban expansion
The union territory attracts migrants from different parts of India, a factor driving Delhi’s expansion in population and territory. One of the world’s largest urban agglomerations, the National Capital Region (NCR) with Delhi at its core, is the epitome of complex urbanization. Megacity regions such as Delhi-NCR cut across multiple city and state jurisdictions, however, economically intertwined with a common labor pool. The complex tangle of cities and districts across various states makes having a canonical count of the region’s population difficult. Estimates by the NCR Planning Board suggested a population of around 71 million in 2021.Proximity to Delhi has led to infrastructure developments in suburban districts like Gurugram and Noida which have emerged as major hotspots for employment, investments, and housing. A spatial analysis of the region recorded a shift in economic activity from the core of Delhi to suburban NCR. Experts stress the need for comprehensive inter-regional planning for consolidation of the economic potential of the region.
Facing environmental headwinds
During the winter months, Delhi and its neighboring NCR districts are covered in a haze of smog, accompanied by poor air quality. Emissions from vehicles, and industries, dust, firecrackers, and biomass burning within the city and its neighboring states, exacerbated by weather and the city’s location are some of the reasons that leave the city gasping for breath every year. Various proposals such as Delhi Climate Action Plan and initiatives such as banning non-CNG trucks carrying non-essential items, BS-IV diesel cars, and industries not running on clean fuels have been implemented to counter the problem. On an optimistic note, the forest cover of Delhi recorded an 11 percent growth between 2001 and 2021. However, more inter-regional planning between Delhi and its neighboring states is warranted to address the problem of pollution.In addition to air pollution, the capital city stands at the forefront of climate-change-induced disasters manifested in the form of scorching heat waves every year to recent floods that left the city at a standstill. The Yamuna River flowing through the city exposes it to floodplain risks. Projected to be the most populous city by 2035, the city faces mammoth challenges like unchecked urbanization, pollution, and infrastructural and financial losses due to climate change.
