Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated the newly constructed working women’s hostel block, Sushma Bhawan, developed by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
He also virtually inaugurated a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital in Moti Bagh, New Delhi. The event was graced by several dignitaries, including the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri V K Saxena and Member of Parliament from New Delhi Ms. Bansuri Swaraj.
In his address, Shri Amit Shah highlighted that the sisters living in this building, named after Sushma Ji, are associated with a leader who has always been an inspiration for women's empowerment, awareness, and struggle in India.
He said that her legacy as a determined opposition leader who exposed corruption and scams worth Rs. 12 lakh during the tenure of the previous government. Shri Shah noted that Sushma ji exemplified the critical role of the Leader of Opposition in a democracy and ignited a nationwide movement for women empowerment.
He said all opposition leaders should learn from Sushma Ji's working style. As the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s government, she set a remarkable example by addressing people’s concerns with compassion and efficiency, leaving an indelible mark on Indian diplomacy.
Union Home Minister stated that the NDMC has provided safe accommodation for approximately 500 working women through the construction of Sushma Bhawan. He said that the inauguration of this building is a significant step in highlighting Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for urban development. He said that since assuming office in 2014, PM Modi has laid a strong policy foundation for transforming India’s urban landscape.
Shri Shah noted that PM Modi stressed the importance of global-standard facilities and included them as a central element of the urban development policy. Prime Minister Modi ji also addressed a significant policy gap by incorporating peri-urban villages previously overlooked into the urban development strategy, which has substantially reshaped cities over the past decade.
The Home Minister also highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s focus on e-governance, exemplified by the Smart Cities Mission, where 100 cities were identified for development using a data-driven approach. He added that this innovative methodology has not only ensured equitable growth across cities but also facilitated development with a forward-looking perspective.
Shri Amit Shah highlighted the Modi government’s significant strides in urban security by establishing Integrated Command and Control Centres in many cities, connecting a comprehensive CCTV network to these hubs.
He noted that in the future, these cameras will be utilized for multipurpose schemes powered by artificial intelligence. Shri Shah also mentioned several transformative initiatives launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, including the AMRUT Yojana, the expansion of metro networks to over 1,000 km, the promotion of electric vehicles, and the PM Surya Ghar Yojana for sustainable solar energy.
He emphasized that cleanliness and environmental conservation were made integral to urban development policy, leading to initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Urban Waste Management Policy, Green Energy projects, and the Solar Rooftop Project.
Shri Shah added that for the first time in 75 years of independence, Prime Minister Modi ensured a dignified livelihood for street vendors by providing them designated spaces and access to loans through the PM SVANidhi Yojana, empowering them to lead respectable lives.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Modi government empowered youth struggling with job-related frustrations by connecting them to self-employment opportunities through the Skill India Mission.
He noted that initiatives like the Swachhata ranking competition and the Climate Smart City Framework fostered healthy competition among cities, driving them toward higher standards of development.
Shri Amit Shah emphasized that by integrating various aspects of urban development policy, the government has made it result-oriented, creating a comprehensive roadmap to address future needs with a long-term vision.
This forward-looking approach aims to position Indian cities among the world’s leading global cities. Union Home Minister stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, infrastructure projects worth ₹68,000 crores have been executed for the development of Delhi over the past 10 years.
The Modi government has invested ₹41,000 crores in road development, ₹15,000 crores in railway-related projects, and ₹12,000 crores to enhance services at the airport and its surroundings. He said that ₹8,000 crores were spent on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and now, one can reach Meerut from Delhi in 45 minutes.
A high-speed corridor is being built to complete the 24-hour journey from Delhi to Mumbai in 12 hours; Dwarka Expressway has been built at a cost of ₹7,500 crores, Eastern Peripheral Expressway at a cost of ₹11,000 crores, Urban Extension Road at a cost of ₹7,715 crores, Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor at a cost of ₹920 crores and Delhi-Meerut RRTS Rail Corridor has been built at a cost of ₹30,000 crores.
He said that a 7000-seat convention center and a 3000-seat amphitheater were built in Bharat Mandapam. Yashobhoomi Convention Center at a cost of ₹5400 crore, Dwarka Golf Course at a cost of ₹250 crore and Dwarka Sports Complex built at a cost of ₹92 crore.
He said a scheme to give ownership rights to 40 lakh poor people by starting the process of regularizing 1731 colonies under PM-Uday Yojana, a scheme to give flats to slum dwellers, 29 thousand houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban and 3000 EWS flats were built at a cost of about ₹354 crore.
New Veer Savarkar College in Delhi University, Prime Minister Museum, Police Memorial, National War Memorial, development of India International Convention Center and Expo Center, Oxygen Park and many green initiatives have also been taken.
Shri Amit Shah, referring to the allegations regarding the construction of a Sheesh Mahal in Delhi on 50,000 square yards at a cost of ₹45 crores, stated that the people of the capital are demanding accountability for this expenditure.
He remarked that despite having the opportunity to focus on the development of Delhi's infrastructure over 10 years, the focus was shifted to constructing a Sheesh Mahal instead of prioritizing development.