‘Parking is a major issue in south Delhi’
18 Jun 2012 12:27 AM GMT
‘I feel pleasure in solving the problems of people,’ says Savita Gupta, Mayor of South Delhi Municipal Corporation [SDMC]. She has a vision to make south Delhi a better place to live; improve health facilities; improve the standard of municipal schools; and create more parking spaces and taxi stands. She also dreams of a dedicated world class heart centre in one of the existing hospitals of SDMC.
In an exclusive interview with Siddheshwar Shukla she explains her political journey and her vision for south Delhi. Excerpts:
What has been your experience as the mayor until now?
It has given me an opportunity to serve the people of south Delhi better. I have directed the officials to make a comprehensive plan to address the various issues of this area. I also do regular follow ups to hasten the projects.
How do you plan your day?
My day starts with meeting people and generally ends in attending public functions. Besides, I have scheduled meetings with officers, visit zonal offices, meetings at civic centre.
What are the major issues of south Delhi?
It’s different from other parts of Delhi. Parking is the biggest issue in south Delhi. There are also not enough toilet and healthcare facilities. Security for women is still a problem. Lots need to be done in education and sanitation.
What efforts are you taking to solve the parking problem?
We are expediting multi-level parking projects in Green Park and Friends Colony. We are also in the process of identifying more parking spaces for surface parking and multi-level parking. People should also cooperate by parking inside and avoiding parking on roads and arteries.
What is your dream project for south Delhi?
A dedicated heart centre has been a long awaited demand of the citizens. I am trying to create a world class heart centre in a hospital of municipal corporation, possibly at the Kalkaji hospital. People say, however, that south Delhi has several multi-speciality hospitals of national repute, but they are overburdened.
What do you want to do for taxi and auto-drivers?
These poor fellows play a crucial role in our daily life. I want to create taxi stands with parking spaces, washing facilities, toilets, lounges and restaurants. This way, they will not be forced to wash their vehicles on roads. I also hope that better facilities will keep them away from crime and inculcate respect to passengers, particularly women.
How are you planning to improve the standards of municipal corporation schools?
The medium of these schools must be English. We have qualified teachers for this. The second hurdle I feel is poor sanitation. I have launched a drive for renovation of toilets before the onset of next session.
How will you improve sanitation and provide better toilet facilities in the city?
I have directed officials to purchase a jetting machine to clean toilets in south Delhi. We are also trying to identify places to build more toilets. Recently, I visited China with my family. I feel they have the best public toilet, transport and traffic management system.
What are the major development works you have facilitated in your area?
A community centre for senior citizens is being constructed in Amar Colony. Some more community centres equipped with gym, recreation centres and library are also in the pipeline.
Whom would you hold responsible for increasing crime against women in the city?
It’s a matter beyond the jurisdiction of SDMC and more concerned with policing. But my personal view is that increasing anonymity and apathy among people is the root cause of these problems.
What brought you into politics?
The entire credit of my political debut goes to my husband Ashwani Gupta. He is more a friend for me than a husband. I became a councillor for the first time in 2007 from Defence Colony and was among 16 BJP councillors at that time. I was conferred the best councillor award by World Consumer Voice in 2007. In 2007, I again became councillor from Amar Colony. The residents of Amar Colony ward no 160 trusted me again and sent me to corporation for the third consecutive time.
A little about your family?
I have a son, Anand, and daughter, Preeti. Both are married. Anand is a chief engineer in Merchant Navy. My daughter lives with her family and has a six-year-old daughter.
What is your biggest worry for Delhi?
Traffic jam is the worst in Delhi. I think old and fuel-inefficient vehicles should be banned from Delhi like blue line buses. There should be time limit, say 15 years, for any vehicle in the city like Delhi. We should have a system for compulsory disposal of vehicles in the city.
What do you like about Delhi?
Its liveliness and the behaviour of the people.
Where is your aspiration in political life?
I want to serve people.
In an exclusive interview with Siddheshwar Shukla she explains her political journey and her vision for south Delhi. Excerpts:
What has been your experience as the mayor until now?
It has given me an opportunity to serve the people of south Delhi better. I have directed the officials to make a comprehensive plan to address the various issues of this area. I also do regular follow ups to hasten the projects.
How do you plan your day?
My day starts with meeting people and generally ends in attending public functions. Besides, I have scheduled meetings with officers, visit zonal offices, meetings at civic centre.
What are the major issues of south Delhi?
It’s different from other parts of Delhi. Parking is the biggest issue in south Delhi. There are also not enough toilet and healthcare facilities. Security for women is still a problem. Lots need to be done in education and sanitation.
What efforts are you taking to solve the parking problem?
We are expediting multi-level parking projects in Green Park and Friends Colony. We are also in the process of identifying more parking spaces for surface parking and multi-level parking. People should also cooperate by parking inside and avoiding parking on roads and arteries.
What is your dream project for south Delhi?
A dedicated heart centre has been a long awaited demand of the citizens. I am trying to create a world class heart centre in a hospital of municipal corporation, possibly at the Kalkaji hospital. People say, however, that south Delhi has several multi-speciality hospitals of national repute, but they are overburdened.
What do you want to do for taxi and auto-drivers?
These poor fellows play a crucial role in our daily life. I want to create taxi stands with parking spaces, washing facilities, toilets, lounges and restaurants. This way, they will not be forced to wash their vehicles on roads. I also hope that better facilities will keep them away from crime and inculcate respect to passengers, particularly women.
How are you planning to improve the standards of municipal corporation schools?
The medium of these schools must be English. We have qualified teachers for this. The second hurdle I feel is poor sanitation. I have launched a drive for renovation of toilets before the onset of next session.
How will you improve sanitation and provide better toilet facilities in the city?
I have directed officials to purchase a jetting machine to clean toilets in south Delhi. We are also trying to identify places to build more toilets. Recently, I visited China with my family. I feel they have the best public toilet, transport and traffic management system.
What are the major development works you have facilitated in your area?
A community centre for senior citizens is being constructed in Amar Colony. Some more community centres equipped with gym, recreation centres and library are also in the pipeline.
Whom would you hold responsible for increasing crime against women in the city?
It’s a matter beyond the jurisdiction of SDMC and more concerned with policing. But my personal view is that increasing anonymity and apathy among people is the root cause of these problems.
What brought you into politics?
The entire credit of my political debut goes to my husband Ashwani Gupta. He is more a friend for me than a husband. I became a councillor for the first time in 2007 from Defence Colony and was among 16 BJP councillors at that time. I was conferred the best councillor award by World Consumer Voice in 2007. In 2007, I again became councillor from Amar Colony. The residents of Amar Colony ward no 160 trusted me again and sent me to corporation for the third consecutive time.
A little about your family?
I have a son, Anand, and daughter, Preeti. Both are married. Anand is a chief engineer in Merchant Navy. My daughter lives with her family and has a six-year-old daughter.
What is your biggest worry for Delhi?
Traffic jam is the worst in Delhi. I think old and fuel-inefficient vehicles should be banned from Delhi like blue line buses. There should be time limit, say 15 years, for any vehicle in the city like Delhi. We should have a system for compulsory disposal of vehicles in the city.
What do you like about Delhi?
Its liveliness and the behaviour of the people.
Where is your aspiration in political life?
I want to serve people.
Next Story
