Delhi only had 200 km of metro lines, in just nine years we took it to 450 km: Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI :AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal reiterated his unwavering dedication to Delhi’s development, on Sunday, declaring his readiness to face jail “a hundred times” if it meant safeguarding the aspirations of Delhi’s people. Stressing the need for continuity to complete pending projects, he highlighted the remarkable achievements of his government and credited initiatives like world-class schools and hospitals, new roads, metro lines, and transformative infrastructure in Delhi’s unauthorised colonies as milestones of progress.

Arvind Kejriwal also took to the occasion to point to landmark accomplishments such as making Delhi the only state with 24×7 power supply, providing free bus travel for women, and free pilgrimage trips for senior citizens. He was speaking as Chief Guest at a Dangal competition in Karala village, Mundka, where he was given a warm and enthusiastic welcome. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as the crowd filled the air with chants praising the AAP Convenor, eager to take selfies and greet him. In a gesture of respect and tradition, the villagers tied a traditional pagdi on his head, adorned him with garlands, and presented him with an idol of Shri Ram Darbar. True to his connect-with-the-people spirit, he later stepped off the stage to interact with the crowd, personally meeting participants to convey his best wishes and sharing moments of encouragement and camaraderie.

Arvind Kejriwal, stated that it’s almost 10 years since the government of Aam Aadmi Party was formed in Delhi. He emphasised, “the kind of work that has been done in Delhi in the last 10 years is being talked about not only in Delhi but in every corner of the country.” The AAP Chief asserted that the political parties that used to criticise us for the work we did are now taking credit for the same work and going around the country asking for votes. “In Delhi, on one hand, we introduced many schemes to relieve the poor, the lower-middle class, and the middle class from inflation. On the other hand, we also worked extensively to improve Delhi’s infrastructure,” he added.

The former Delhi CM further stated, “We provided free electricity and water for the poor and middle class while transforming government schools into institutions of excellence unmatched across the country. Over the past few years, 4 lakh children have switched from private to government schools.” He highlighted a significant shift in education trends, noting that children once left government schools for private ones, but now the reverse is happening as families opt for government schools since AAP has come to power in Delhi. He further stated, “We have established Mohalla Clinics across Delhi and transformed government hospitals. Treatment, medicines, tests, and even doctor consultations are entirely free of cost.”

He stated, “We made bus travel free for women. Before 2015, Delhi faced power cuts lasting 8 to 10 hours daily. Today, it is the only city in the country with 24-hour electricity. No other state in India provides round-the-clock power.”

Highlighting the city’s infrastructure growth, the AAP Chief noted, “Before our government, Delhi Metro had 200 kilometres of track. In the past nine years, we have expanded it to 450 kilometres. In the Mundka constituency, we inaugurated four new metro stations, Ghevada, Tikri, Tikri Border, and Mundka Industrial Area.”

Arvind Kejriwal further pointed out that Mundka constituency has the highest number of unauthorised colonies in Delhi. “When our government was formed in 2015, I instructed officials to develop these colonies. They initially said that legal restrictions from the central government and the High Court made development in these areas impossible. However, we overcame all these legal hurdles and, over the past nine years, built 10,000 kilometres of roads and lanes, 6,800 kilometres of drains and sewer lines, and laid 4,000 kilometres of water pipelines in these unauthorised colonies,” he added.

The AAP Chief said to the supporters, “Mundka constituency has 73 unauthorised colonies where we have built roads and lanes. I’m not claiming that all the work has been completed, there are still areas where work is ongoing. However, significant progress has been made. If you give us another chance, we will complete the remaining work in the next term.”

The AAP National Convenor further said that although sewer and drainage work has been done in these colonies, he has learned that some sewer pipelines are not connected to the mainline, causing sewage to back up. He also mentioned hearing about issues with some of the roads and drains built in these colonies. He assured the residents, “Don’t worry. They put me in jail for several months, but now that I am out, I will ensure that all pending work is completed swiftly.”

Arvind Kejriwal also acknowledged the various challenges faced by Delhi’s villages, including those in Mundka constituency. He assured, “I have prepared a detailed list of pending work, including drainage systems, roads, lanes, and other infrastructure in these villages.”

The former Delhi CM shared a major announcement, stating, “India’s largest sports university is going to be built in Mundka. A budget of Rs 2,100 crore has already been approved for it, and construction will begin soon. It will take time, but it will be a massive university. People in our villages and rural areas are particularly passionate about sports, and this university will provide opportunities for our youth to shine in this field.”

Arvind Kejriwal highlighted that Mundka used to experience frequent power outages, even with minor load increases. To address this, 12 new transformers have been installed in the area, and he noted that the issue of power cuts has significantly reduced.

He added that while a lot of work has been done, much more remains to be accomplished. “Why did they put me in jail? The whole world knows there is no one as fiercely honest as Arvind Kejriwal.”

The former Delhi CM reasoned that the only reason they jailed me was to stop the work being done in Delhi by AAP. They wanted to prevent progress. These people used to criticise me for providing free electricity, but now they go around the country promising free electricity themselves. The difference is, they don’t actually deliver on their promises, they just lie.”

Arvind Kejriwal concluded stating, “These people want to halt all the work I have done in Delhi. I built schools for your children, hospitals for your families, and roads for your neighbourhoods. In Mundka constituency alone, 4,000 CCTV cameras have been installed, and around 2,800 elderly citizens have been sent on pilgrimage. These people want to stop all this progress. I am ready to go to jail a hundred times for Delhiites, but the love and blessings you have given me keep me energised.”