Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday announced that the city government will provide 1,200 units of electricity free of cost to every Ramlila and Durga Puja committee for staging their events.
She further said that one day during the celebrations will be dedicated to honouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of the Seva Pakhwada beginning on 17 September (PM Modi’s 75th birthday) and continuing till 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti).
“We have decided that just as assistance was given to Kanwar camps, the Delhi government will now provide 1,200 units of electricity free of cost to all Ramlila committees. The same provision will apply to Durga Puja pandals as well. A committee has been formed to address any issues that may arise,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons after a meeting with Ramlila and Durga Puja committees at the Delhi Secretariat.
Cabinet Ministers Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra, along with senior officials and representatives of festival committees, also attended the meeting.
For the first time, Ramlila organisers will benefit from this provision. Gupta also announced that all necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from departments such as the DDA, MCD, Delhi Jal Board, and Fire Services will now be issued through a single-window system at the District Magistrate’s office, saving organisers from multiple departmental visits.
Other key reforms and announcements include: 1,200 free electricity units for each Ramlila and Durga Puja committee; reduced security deposit for electricity connections — committees will now pay only 25 percent of the earlier charges; lower land security deposit — reduced from ₹20 per sq. m to ₹15 per sq. m; single-window NOC approvals through the District Magistrate’s office and formation of a six-member committee to promptly resolve festival-related issues.
Comprehensive arrangements at festival venues, including sanitation, fogging, medical aid, fire safety, police deployment, and traffic management.
Highlighting Delhi’s rich tradition of staging Ramlila, Gupta said that despite the pressures of modern life, residents continue to show great enthusiasm, with around 600 Ramlilas staged annually across the city, including 100 on a grand scale. This year’s performances will run from 22 September to 2 October.
The Chief Minister urged committees to use the platform to spread messages of national and social importance. “Messages on environmental issues and appeals in the public interest should be conveyed before or after performances so that people take home a positive message,” she said.
As part of Seva Pakhwada, Gupta also encouraged committees to organise medical camps, cleanliness drives, and awareness programmes at Ramlila venues. She assured organisers of full government support, stressing that Ramlila is not just a religious celebration but also a sacred medium to impart lessons of discipline, restraint, and service to society.