Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta joined a cleanliness drive in Azadpur on Gandhi Jayanti and directed officials to act on garbage accumulation, blocked or poorly maintained footpaths, drainage concerns, encroachment and damaged civic infrastructure in the area.
The inspection was conducted under the ‘Seva Mera Yogdan’ campaign, during which Gupta reviewed the condition of Azadpur’s central verge, footpaths, roadside walls, drainage system and nearby public spaces. She sought details from officials about waste accumulation and the use of footpaths by fruit vendors, as well as unauthorised advertisements placed on walls.
Gupta directed officials to ensure regular cleaning of the central verge and surrounding areas and asked them to explore permanent solutions to the civic problems identified during the inspection. The directions place routine maintenance, rather than one-time cleaning activity, at the centre of the response to conditions around the busy market area.
The inspection also highlighted the tension between pedestrian access and the livelihoods of fruit vendors operating on footpaths. Gupta interacted with vendors and said arrangements should protect their livelihoods while ensuring that footpaths remain accessible to pedestrians. Officials and local representatives were asked to coordinate on a suitable arrangement for vendors and commuters.
Waste generated by fruit vendors and workers at Azadpur Mandi was another focus of the inspection. Gupta urged them to dispose of waste properly, noting that waste left on footpaths could enter drains and affect the drainage system. The direction links market waste management with the functioning of local drainage infrastructure, making disposal practices an operational concern for both the market and surrounding public spaces.
Gupta also called for the improvement and beautification of the underpass and long walls through wall paintings. Officials were asked to maintain cleanliness and improve public facilities around the chowk being developed in the area. According to the Delhi government, a statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is planned to be installed there in December, after which the location will be named Atal Chowk.
The chief minister said cleanliness should not remain limited to campaigns and should become part of daily life, while describing the maintenance of streets, markets, neighbourhoods and public spaces as a shared responsibility. MLA Rajkumar Bhatia, Municipal Corporation officials, other public representatives and local residents were present during the inspection. The next stated milestones are regular cleaning, coordination on vendor and commuter arrangements, improvements to the underpass and walls, and the planned installation of the statue in December.
