In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project: PM Modi Hands Over 3024 Newly Constructed Flats To Beneficiaries In Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 3024 newly constructed Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) flats at Kalkaji, built for rehabilitating slum dwellers under the ‘In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project’.

The keys were handed over to eligible beneficiaries at Bhoomiheen Camp in New Delhi on 2 November.

In line with the vision of the Prime Minister to provide housing for all, in-situ slum rehabilitation in 376 Jhuggi Jhopri clusters is being undertaken by Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The objective of the rehabilitation project is to provide a better and healthy living environment to the residents of Jhuggi Jhopri clusters, with proper amenities and facilities.

Addressing the gathering, Modi said that today (2 November) is a big day for hundreds of families of Delhi as it is a new beginning for many jhuggi dwelling poor families.

The Prime Minister informed that more than 3000 homes have already been prepared in the first phase of Kalkaji Extension alone. Very soon, other families living in the area will get the opportunity to enter their new homes.

“I am sure that these efforts of the central government will play a big role in making Delhi an ideal city”, he said.

Remarking on the development that is witnessed and the dreams that are realised in big cities like Delhi, the Prime Minister said that the foundation of such developments and dreams is made up of the hard work and efforts of the poor.

“Paradoxically”, he said, “these poor people have been made to live in deplorable conditions. When there is such an imbalance in one single city, how can we think of holistic development? In the Azadi ka Amrit Kaal, we have to fill this huge gap. That is why, the country is moving on the path of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas for everyone’s upliftment ”.

The Prime Minister pointed out that for decades, the system of governance in the country was plagued with the mentality that poverty is a poor people’s issue but the government of today belongs to the poor and it is not in its nature to leave them be.

The Prime Minister also added that there were 50 lakh people in Delhi, who did not even have a bank account. That deprived them of any benefit of the banking system. “They were in Delhi but Delhi was very far from them”, he said.

The Prime Minister said, “We are ensuring 'Ease of Living' for the poor in Delhi through 'One Nation, One Ration Card'.”

This proved hugely beneficial for poor segments during the pandemic. Lakhs of eligible vulnerable people are receiving free ration from the central government for the last two years.

“When there is this security in life, the poor work hard with all their might without rest. He works to lift himself out of poverty.”, he added.

The Prime Minister said that all this is done without much fanfare and expansive advertisements. This is because “we live to bring change in your lives”, he said.

Speaking on the topic of unauthorised colonies in Delhi the Prime Minister acknowledged the constant worry of the people about the status of their houses.

“The central government has also done the work of reducing this concern of the people of Delhi. Work is going on to regularise the houses built in unauthorised colonies of Delhi through the PM-UDAY scheme. Till now thousands of people have taken advantage of this scheme”, he said.

He also mentioned that Rs 700 crore have been spent in providing interest subsidies to poor and middle-class families for constructing their own houses.

“Our government is leaving no stone unturned to fulfil the aspirations of citizens in Delhi. The aim of the central government is to turn Delhi into a grand city complete with all amenities in accordance with its status as the capital of the country", he said.

Emphasising the development in the Delhi-NCR region, the Prime Minister informed about the expansion of metro routes from 190 km to 400 km after 2014.

He further noted that in the last 8 years, 135 new metro stations have been added to the network which ended up saving time and money.

The Prime Minister also informed that the Government of India with an investment of Rs 50,000 crore is widening roads to provide relief to Delhi from traffic congestion.

He gave examples of Dwarka Expressway, Urban Extension Road, Akshardham to Baghpat 6-lane Access Control Highway and elevated corridor in the form of Gurugram-Sohna Road.

The Prime Minister informed that services like Rapid Rail for Delhi-NCR are going to begin in the near future. He noted the grand construction of the New Delhi Railway Station that is going to take place and expressed delight at the construction of Bharat Vandana Park on 80 hectares of land in Dwarka which is now moving towards completion in the next few months.

The Prime Minister asked the beneficiaries of the new houses to use LED bulbs only, to save electricity, to make sure no water gets wasted and most importantly — to keep the entire colony clean and beautiful.