New Delhi: The Delhi government has announced a major reform that will allow electricity connections to be issued even in properties marked as “booked” by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), offering long-awaited relief to lakhs of residents. The decision, welcomed by Power Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday, marks the resolution of one of the capital’s longest-running civic issues.
Addressing reporters, Sood said the move would benefit more than 1.25 lakh booked properties across the city, and the number of affected consumers could reach several lakh when calculated floor-wise. He noted that the order reflects the government’s commitment to settling legacy problems that had persisted for decades. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, issues that were pending for years have been cleared within just 8–10 months,” he said.
Until now, residents of booked properties were permitted to obtain water connections but were denied electricity meters, forcing them to rely on generators, makeshift wiring from neighbours, or costly temporary setups. This lack of access not only caused financial hardship but also led to unsafe practices and exploitation.
Sood criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party-led municipal administration for creating barriers around electricity connections in such properties, claiming that political considerations had prevented fair access to basic amenities. The current decision, he said, corrects a long-standing unfairness and brings significant relief to thousands of families.