Chief Minister Rekha Gupta marked Republic Day by inaugurating development projects worth Rs 3.27 billion for slum clusters in the city and interacting with residents, reaffirming her government’s commitment to improving living conditions in these settlements. The announced projects focus on strengthening basic civic infrastructure in jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) clusters, including the construction of public convenience complexes and cement concrete roads and lanes. Of the approved Rs 3.27 billion, projects worth Rs 1.44 billion have already been awarded and are currently under implementation, officials said. Addressing residents, Gupta highlighted the significance of Republic Day and India’s constitutional values, emphasising the need to strengthen commitment towards nation-building and inclusive development. She also recalled India’s journey from Independence to the adoption of the Constitution, paying tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs. The Chief Minister criticised the previous administration, alleging that it failed to provide basic civic amenities to JJ residents and treated them merely as a vote bank. She said her government is focused on addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps and improving the quality of life for slum dwellers. Gupta said workers living in slum clusters have played a vital role in the city’s development and reiterated that her government aims to ensure that the benefits of development reach the last mile of society. She added that detailed discussions were held with JJ residents to understand their needs and priorities. The Delhi government has earmarked a dedicated budget of Rs 7 billion for JJ development, with accelerated work on housing, health, sanitation and social welfare initiatives. A comprehensive plan has been prepared to improve essential infrastructure such as drains, roads, toilets, parks and settlement development centres in JJ areas. According to Gupta, several projects were inaugurated on Republic Day as part of this fast-tracked development programme. She also highlighted the introduction of facilities such as Atal Canteens, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and dedicated health and nutrition services for JJ residents, underscoring the government’s focus on inclusive urban development.