CM announces new integrated secretariat, slams previous govt

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced the construction of a new, modern and integrated secretariat for Delhi, aiming to bring all government departments under one roof and end the era of dilapidated, scattered offices across the city.

The announcement came during the launch of the “Delhi Ko Koode Se Azaadi” cleanliness campaign at the Department of Women and Child Development office near Kashmere Gate, where CM Gupta expressed dismay at the crumbling infrastructure of the office.

“It is saddening to see how officials entrusted with ensuring good governance in Delhi can work effectively in such deplorable circumstances. Ceilings are leaking, furniture is broken, there are no proper chairs to sit on, cupboards are damaged and fans are in such a poor condition that these could fall at any moment,” she said, adding that the building, where a fire broke out in 2021, was yet to be repaired.

Visibly disturbed, the Chief Minister questioned how officials could be expected to deliver good governance in such hazardous conditions. “Are we forcing our officials to work while putting their lives at risk?” she asked.

Targeting the previous AAP-led government, CM Gupta said, “Those who called themselves an ‘educated government’ were busy building lavish offices for themselves, but failed to provide even basic facilities essential for the working of our officials. The ones who spent Rs 70 crore on their own office couldn’t spend even a few crores on these departments.”

She said her government would begin work immediately to identify a suitable location for the new integrated secretariat. “A suitable location will be identified where the new Delhi Secretariat can be established, enabling all departments to function under one roof. We cannot leave our officials to work in such miserable conditions any longer,” the Chief Minister asserted.

Delhi