For 5 reasons – The capital of India will move from Delhi ! – Where will the new capital be located ?
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There is a lot of debate going on recently about shifting the capital of India from Delhi to another place. Some are arguing that it should be shifted south from Delhi to Chennai, Bengaluru, Mysore or Hyderabad. Others are saying that it should be shifted to the center of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. Otherwise, it should also be shifted to a new and secure place in India. If the possibility of making a new capital of India elsewhere is being considered instead of Delhi, then Nagpur and Bhopal are being discussed more. Now the question is why Delhi will not be the capital of India now?
Why will Delhi not be the capital of India – 5 reasons?
1) Security is the main reason – Due to Delhi being considered as the main capital in the past, all the foreign invaders from Muhammad bin Qasim, Muhammad Ghori to Babur attacked Delhi and looted a lot. Later, they captured Delhi and ruled their kingdom from here. Because it was a convenient place for them to rule the state and attack other states in India. But after the partition of India, Dil is no longer suitable for India from a security perspective. It is no longer convenient due to its distance from other states.
If we look at the geographical location of India, keeping Delhi as the capital of India cannot be considered safe for the country and for the future. This is being thought because Delhi is situated in the center of North India, due to which India’s enemies China and Pakistan can easily reach here. The distance of Pakistan from Delhi is just 450 kilometers, while the distance of China’s Aksai Chin military base is just 750 kilometers. In such a situation, if there is a war, it will be easy for both these countries to reach Delhi. Missiles or drones can be easily dropped here. On administrative basis, it may be difficult to rule the country from Delhi in the future.
2) Pollution and environment- Pollution in Delhi has reached its peak. Delhi’s AQI level remains around 150 and sometimes it crosses 200. It is difficult to breathe here. According to the latest report of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the bacteria level in Yamuna river has increased 4000 times. The sight of the Yamuna river covered in white foam points to the grave state of pollution. The most worrying parameter in the river is fecal coliform which indicates the presence of fecal-borne bacteria. Pollution in Delhi has increased the risk of lung cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and even adult-onset diseases like multiple sclerosis. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari once commented on Delhi’s pollution that if someone stays here for 3 days, he can get an infection. Delhi is no longer a place to live.
3)Population- Today the population of Delhi is around 33 million. According to the UN report, it will become the most populous city in the world. At least 1000 people come to Delhi every day, out of which 300 people settle here. Due to this, many other things are also increasing along with traffic. For example, 3 out of 5 crimes in the country happen in Delhi itself. For this reason, the expansion of low standard of living is also a big reason.
4)Traffic – In 2021, Delhi was ranked 11th among the most crowded cities in the world. In 2024, Delhi was reported to be the 44th most crowded city center, with congestion of 48% recorded. There is a jam every day due to traffic in Delhi. The situation here becomes even worse during the rains. Delhi’s average traffic congestion index has been around 26 in the last 30 days, which puts it at around 22nd place globally. On normal days, the traffic congestion index is around 26% and the average speed is 20–25km/hr. It takes around 25 to 40 minutes to cover a distance of 10 km. On weekends, the traffic often becomes even worse. In such a situation, its adverse effects can be seen on the functioning of the government and administration as well as on the lives of the common people.
5)Crime Level -The crime rate in Delhi is relatively high, especially compared to metros. In 2022, Delhi recorded 1832.6 crimes per 100,000 persons, making it the highest among major metropolitan cities. In 2021, Delhi had the highest crime rate in the whole of India. The number of rapes, thefts, robberies, murders and crimes against women in Delhi is much higher than in other cities across the country. Hit and run cases have also increased in Delhi. Along with this, the business of drugs and fake notes also remains a challenge for the police. According to the Global Liveability Index, both Delhi and Mumbai shared the 141st position among 173 global cities, getting a score of 60.2 (out of 100). This shows that the quality of living in the city is affected despite limited challenges. In a comparative study of 1000 largest cities, Delhi is ranked 350th. If we study air pollution, environment, clean water, congestion, number of vehicles, infrastructure, living cost, security, health, education and other things, then the people of Delhi have to face many challenges. Delhi is not included in the top 10 livable cities in India.
