AAP govt kept development of Delhi on hold for political gain, says PM Modi
"There was a time when Delhi was discussed only for its bad facilities. It took a few hours to reach from one point in the city to another," Modi said.
2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Mar 8, 2026 10:38 PM IST
Underlining Delhi's national and global importance as the country's Capital, the PM stressed that strengthening the city's infrastructure was essential to reflect India's progress. (PTI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the previous AAP government in Delhi, alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party kept the “development of lakhs of Delhiites at hold for their own political benefit.” Referring to the previous regime as the “AAPda (disaster) government,” the PM made the remarks while inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth around Rs 33,500 crore in the Capital.
‘AAPda govt’: PM Modi
“This programme is also a symbol of how important it was that Delhi got rid of the ‘AApda government’ last year. If there would have been no AAP government, the Delhi Metro’s Phase IV would have gotten over much earlier. But for their own political benefit, the AAP kept the development of lakhs of Delhiites at hold,” he said.
He also recalled how the Capital had once been synonymous with poor infrastructure. “There was a time when Delhi was discussed only for its bad facilities. It took a few hours to reach from one point in the city to another,” Modi said.
Underlining Delhi’s national and global importance as the country’s Capital, the PM stressed that strengthening the city’s infrastructure was essential to reflect India’s progress. He referred to projects such as the Namo Bharat train and the expansion of the Delhi Metro network to 375 kilometres as concrete steps towards improving connectivity and modernizing infrastructure.
“The more modern, convenient, and better connected Delhi becomes, the more strongly India’s self-confidence will be visible to the world,” he added.
The PM also outlined several transport infrastructure upgrades underway in the city, noting that more than 4,000 electric buses provided by the Centre are already operating in Delhi, with another 1,800 buses deployed over the past year. He further highlighted how the Peripheral Expressway has successfully diverted lakhs of vehicles that previously had to enter the city.
Devansh Mittal is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in the New Delhi City bureau. He reports on urban policy, civic governance, and infrastructure in the National Capital Region, with a growing focus on housing, land policy, transport, and the disruption economy and its social implications.
Professional Background
Education: He studied Political Science at Ashoka University.
Core Beats: His reporting focuses on policy and governance in the National Capital Region, one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. He covers housing and land policy, municipal governance, urban transport, and the interface between infrastructure, regulation, and everyday life in the city.
Recent Notable Work
His recent reporting includes in-depth examinations of urban policy and its on-ground consequences:
An investigation into subvention-linked home loans that documented how homebuyers were drawn into under-construction projects through a “builder–bank” nexus, often leaving them financially exposed when delivery stalled.
A detailed report on why Delhi’s land-pooling policy has remained stalled since 2007, tracing how fragmented land ownership, policy design flaws, and mistrust among stakeholders have kept one of the capital’s flagship urban reforms in limbo.
A reported piece examining the collapse of an electric mobility startup and what it meant for women drivers dependent on the platform for livelihoods.
Reporting Approach
Devansh’s work combines on-ground reporting with analysis of government data, court records, and academic research. He regularly reports from neighbourhoods, government offices, and courtrooms to explain how decisions on housing, transport, and the disruption economy shape everyday life in the city.
Contact
X (Twitter): @devanshmittal_
Email: devansh.mittal@expressindia.com ... Read More