Delhi Metro's Golden Line Tunnel Breakthrough; Delhi Jal Board Losses Soar to ₹1,196.2 Crore
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Metro achieves tunnelling breakthrough on Golden Line, advancing Phase 4 construction.
- Delhi Jal Board losses surge to ₹1,196.2 crore, debt exceeds ₹73,000 crore.
- Delhi to launch electric boat cruises on Yamuna River by December 2025.
- Delhi's civic agencies expedite desilting efforts before monsoon season expected around June 28.
- Delhi's air quality 'poor' with AQI of 209; heatwave expected with temperatures up to 44°C.
Top Stories
Delhi Metro achieves tunnelling breakthrough on Golden Line.
On June 8, 2025, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced a tunnelling breakthrough at Tughlakabad Railway Colony station on the Golden Line as part of Phase 4. A Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) completed a 792-metre stretch connecting Maa Anandmayee Marg to Tughlakabad Railway Colony; the second breakthrough on the Tughlakabad-Aerocity corridor is expected by July 2025. Under Phase 4, 40.1 km of underground metro lines are being constructed, with the Tughlakabad-Aerocity corridor accounting for 19.3 km of that stretch, at an average depth of 18 metres.
Delhi Jal Board losses surge to ₹1,196.2 crore.
As of June 7, 2025, the Delhi Jal Board's (DJB) losses had increased from Rs 344 crore in 2019-2020 to Rs 1,196.2 crore in 2021-2022, with debt exceeding Rs 73,000 crore.
Delhi to launch electric boat cruises on Yamuna.
By December 2025, Delhi plans to launch electric-powered boat cruises on a four-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna River between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur. The IWAI has awarded the work to build two jetties along the river at Sonia Vihar.
Delhi's desilting efforts underway before monsoon.
As of June 8, 2025, Delhi's civic agencies are working to complete desilting before the monsoon season, expected around June 28. The Public Works Department has desilted nearly 45% of its drainage network, the irrigation and flood control department has removed about 68% of silt, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has cleaned almost 70% of its drains; the desilting deadline was extended to June 25. Persistent waterlogging occurs because existing drains are insufficient, necessitating a new drainage master plan, with reports expected by June.
Delhi's air quality 'poor'; heatwave expected.
On June 8, 2025, Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the ‘poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 209, leading the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi-NCR. Dry conditions are expected to prevail, with temperatures likely to reach 42-44 degrees Celsius by June 10, and dust-raising winds are expected.
Crime Beat
Man arrested for death threat to Delhi CM.
On June 7, 2025, 25-year-old Shlok Tripathi was arrested in Ghaziabad for allegedly issuing a death threat to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta via the 112 emergency helpline. He was traced to Panchvati and is being interrogated; the SIM card used was registered in Gorakhpur.
Delhi Police seize Rs 4 lakh counterfeit currency.
On June 8, 2025, Delhi Police recovered counterfeit currency with a face value of Rs 4 lakh, which was smuggled from Bangladesh. Naushad Alam, 22, from Bihar, was apprehended near Vijay Ghat Bus Stand.
Capital Politics
Delhi's free water scheme relies on MCD colony classifications.
As of June 7, 2025, the determination of low-income areas in Delhi for the free water scheme will rely on MCD's colony classifications for property tax, ranging from category ‘A' (affluent) to ‘H' (low-income).
Road Watch
Delhi considers elevated road over Ring Road.
On June 8, 2025, it was reported that Delhi is considering building an elevated road over the existing 55-km Ring Road to ease congestion. The project, estimated to cost Rs 5,500-6,000 crore, aims to be completed within the government's term.
Gurgaon's Kherki Daula toll plaza to shift to Pachgaon.
On June 8, 2025, it was reported that the government has approved shifting of Gurgaon’s Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway (NH-48) to Pachgaon, beyond Manesar, facilitating easier commutes. The process of shifting and starting the MMLF system to collect toll at Pachgaon may take around six months.