It has been an exciting year for our beautiful city. So as 2018 comes to a close, let us look at some of the awesome things that happened this year in Delhi.
January: An almost two-fold increase, as compared to 2017, in the number of birds at Okhla Bird Sanctuary is reported by the Asian Waterbird Census. Many rare species find home at the reserve. Red-listed as threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Northern Lapwing makes an appearance in Delhi after several years.
February: A 90-acre oasis, Sunder Nursery, is opened for the public. Beautifully renovated, the nursery is touted as Delhi’s own Central Park. The nursery houses Delhi’s first arboretum. Several Mughal monuments dot the landscape, giving a tough competition to the famed Lodhi gardens.
March: The much-awaited, Delhi Metro’s Pink Line opens up, connecting the North and South campuses of Delhi University. It is a feat of engineering. Elevated tracks as high as 23 metres are built between Delhi Cantonment and Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus stations, the highest the Delhi Metro has ever been. The route also has new generation driverless trains, which run on an advanced Communication Based Train Control signalling technology.
April: Dalmia Bharat group adopts Red Fort for five years under the government’s ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme. It is the first time in Indian history that a corporate house has adopted a historical monument. The redevelopment plans include renovation, night illumination, music concerts, sanitisation, and installing tactile flooring for the visually challenged.
May: Phase 1 of the ambitious Delhi-Meerut expressway opens. It is India’s first 14-lane highway. The 82-kilometre-long expressway cuts down the travel time between the two cities to 60 minutes. It is the first expressway to have dedicated bicycle tracks and solar lighting system.
June: Delhi comes together to save 16,500 trees. Protesting against a proposal to cut thousands of trees for the redevelopment of South Delhi, over 100 Delhiites gathered together to save Delhi’s environment. People went around hugging trees, starting their own version of the Chipko Movement.
July: Delhi government launches ‘happiness curriculum’ for school students. The curriculum focuses on holistic education. It includes meditation, moral values, and mental exercises. It has been introduced for the students of nursery to Class 8 in Delhi government schools.
August: It was end of an era as former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away. Thousands of people flocked to the national capital to pay their homage to the deceased leader. A seven-day state mourning was announced. The last rites took place at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal.
September: Doorstep delivery of 40 government services begins. Services such as obtaining a marriage certificate, driving license, new water connection, and caste certificate are covered under the scheme. Just a dial away, the services are available for an extra fee of Rs 50.
October: India’s first police museum opens on the premises of the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri. The museum depicts the history, artefacts, uniforms, and gear of central and state police forces. A wall of valour, having the names of personnel killed in action, has also been built in the area.
November: Delhi’s iconic Signature Bridge opens. Built over the Yamuna river, it cuts down travel time significantly between north and north-east Delhi. It is India’s first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge. Eventually, the bridge will have a 154- metre high glass box, giving a panoramic view of the capital to tourists.
December: Trial runs for zero emission and noise free electric buses eBuzz K9s begin. It is a move to combat the increasing pollution levels in Delhi. These buses have been manufactured in India. They are 20-metre-long, having a seating capacity of 35 plus one driver. The eBuzz K9 battery offers a range of 300 km on a single charge.
