New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah Tuesday flagged off 300 electric buses and inaugurated three bus depots to support Delhi’s growing e-bus fleet.He also virtually opened 40 automated vehicle testing centres, which will replace manual ones and improve transparency, enhance road safety and ensure compliance with emission and fitness standards. The recently developed Nand Nagri automated testing centre for commercial vehicles was inaugurated too.Shah launched Delhi govt’s ‘Mission 70 Lakh Plantation’ campaign and inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of a series of infrastructure and environmental projects in the city, while touching on govt efforts to rejuvenate Yamuna and protect and develop the Ridge.He laid the foundation stone of a high-security prison being built over 11 acres at a cost of Rs 150 crore in Narela. The facility, designed to house high-risk inmates and aimed at curbing organised crime, is inspired by the layout of Andaman’s Cellular Jail. Its standout feature is an isolated radial design that will prevent inmates from seeing or talking to each other, thereby eliminating in-prison networking of gang members.The event was attended by Union ministers Bhupender Yadav and Harsh Malhotra, Delhi LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu, chief minister Rekha Gupta and other dignitaries.Shah said Delhi govt has taken a significant step towards protecting the Ridge by declaring 5,000 hectares of the notified Ridge area as forest land. He said while 7,784 hectares of the Ridge had been notified under the Indian Forest Act in 1994, the final notification was pending for three decades.The Centre and Delhi govt have resolved to develop and legally protect 6,300 hectares of the Ridge as forest land over the next four years, he said. Describing the Ridge as the “lungs of Delhi”, Shah said more than one crore native plants, over 65 lakh large tree species and another 65 lakh plants will be planted. A working plan document for 2026-2036, Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan and Delhi’s Bird Atlas have also been drawn up as part of efforts to restore the capital’s ecosystem.Shah said the Ridge will be developed with more than 70 ponds, small restaurants and conserved archaeological structures. He said that eight themed forests — Nakshatra Van, Mel Van, Rishi Van, Tirthankar Van, Shankar Van, Vaman Vriksha Van and Purani Vatika — will be created to connect people with nature.The home minister said many poisonous and thorny trees currently found in the Ridge create an illusion of greenery while offering little ecological value. Native species, such as peepal, banyan, neem, gular, arjun and jamun, which survive for over a century, will be planted across the Ridge over the next three years, he added.Shah also spoke about the ongoing programme to clean Yamuna, saying the Centre and Delhi govt will soon sign an agreement with National Dairy Development Board to ensure that cow dung from dairies in the city no longer enters the river. Instead, the waste will be processed into gas and natural manure.He said 129 sewage treatment plants became operational over the past year and another 59 will be set up. Their treated water will meet prescribed quality standards before it is discharged into the river.Shah also referred to Delhi govt’s recently notified Electric Vehicle policy, saying that initiatives like it, rejuvenation of Yamuna and development of the Ridge will contribute towards building a greener and more sustainable capital.
