HOME WEB NEWS IMAGES CLASSIFIEDS YELLOW PAGESPOLLS - SURVEYS WIKI COUNTRIES PHOTOS US UK INDIA
Cities Stocks Weather Movies Coupons Travel Blogs Health Horoscope Maps ASIA EUROPE Classifieds Yellow Pages
|
 1
|
For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation).
Delhi (Hindi: दिल्ली, Punjabi: ਦਿੱਲੀ, Urdu: دلی, IPA: [d̪ɪlːiː]) sometimes referred to as Dilli, is the second-largest metropolis in India, after Mumbai, with a population of 12.8 million, and with an extended metropolitan population of almost 22 million.Principal Agglomerations of the WorldThe Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Delhi and neighbourhood Located in northern India on the banks of the River Yamuna, Delhi has the political status of a federally-administered union territory known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), which in itself is part of National Capital Region. A constitutional amendment in 1991 gave Delhi a special status among the Union Territories; Delhi has its own legislative assembly with limited powers. The National Capital Territory of Delhi comprises nine districts, 27 tehsils, three statutory towns viz. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB), 59 census towns and 165 villages.Table 3.1: Delhi Last 10 Years (1991–2001) — Administrative Set Up (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2001–2002 p177. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
Delhi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Having been the capital of several empires in ancient India, Delhi was a major city in the old trade routes from northwest India to the Gangetic Plains. Many ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance have been erected in its history.Delhi Circle (N.C.T. of Delhi). List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of National Importance. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved on 2006-12-27. The Mughals built a section of the city (now known as Old City or Old Delhi) that served as the capital of Mughal Empire for a long period. During the British Raj, New Delhi was built as an administrative quarter of the city. New Delhi was declared the capital of India after India gained independence from British rule in 1947. As the seat of the Government of India, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India, making Delhi a powerhouse of Indian politics.
Delhi has grown up to be a cosmopolitan city owing to the immigration of people from across the country. Like many other large cities of the world, Delhi suffers from urbanisation problems such as pollution, traffic congestion, and scarcity of resources
Monkeys attack Delhi politician. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
. The rapid development and urbanisation of Delhi and surrounding areas coupled with the high average income of the populace has largely eclipsed socio-cultural traits that used to represent Delhi until a few years after independence.Jacob, Satish (July 2002). "Wither, the walled city". Seminar (web edition) (515). Retrieved on 2007-01-19. Menon, Anjolie Ela (July 2002). "The Age That Was". Seminar (web edition) (515). Retrieved on 2007-01-29. Dayal, Ravi (July 2002). "A Kayastha’s View". Seminar (web edition) (515). Retrieved on 2007-01-29. Today, Delhi is a major cultural, political, and commercial center of India.
Contents |
The etymology of "Delhi" is uncertain. The most common view is that it is an eponym of Dhillu, a king who ruled the area in ancient times.Chapter 1: Introduction (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006 pp1–7. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. Some historians believe that the name is derived from Dilli, a corruption of dehleez or dehali—Hindustani for \'threshold\'—and symbolic of city as a gateway to the Indo-Gangetic Plain.Cohen, Richard J. (October–December 1989). "An Early Attestation of the Toponym Dhilli". Journal of the American Oriental Society 109 (4): 513–519. doi:10.2307/604073. Another theory suggests that the city\'s original name was Dhillika.Austin, Ian; Thakur Nahar Singh Jasol. Chauhans (Cahamanas, Cauhans). The Mewar Encyclopedia. mewarindia.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. The Hindi/Prakrit word dhili ("loose") was also used for the area, and gradually transformed into the local name "Dilli". The coins in circulation in the region under the Tomara Rajputs were called dehliwal Our Pasts II, History Textbook for Class VII. NCERT. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
At 72.5 m (238 ft), the Qutub Minar is the world\'s tallest brick minaret. Under threat: The Magnificent Minaret of Jam. The New Courier No 1. UNESCO (October 2002). Retrieved on 2006-05-03.
Built in 1560, the Humayun\'s Tomb is a prime example of Mughal Architecture.
The India Gate commemorates Indian soldiers who died in World War I
Human habitation was probably present in and around Delhi during the second millennium BC and before, as evidenced by archeological relics.Delhi History. Delhi Tourism. Advent InfoSoft (P) Ltd. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. The city is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, legendary capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Settlements grew from the time of the Mauryan Empire (c. 300 BC). Remains of seven major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The Tomara dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in 736 AD. The Chauhan Rajputs of Ajmer conquered Lal Kot in 1180 AD and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. The Chauhan king Prithviraj III was defeated in 1192 by the Afghan Muhammad Ghori. In 1206, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty established the Delhi Sultanate. Qutb-ud-din started the construction the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam (might of Islam), the earliest extant mosque in India.India: Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (PDF). State of Conservation of the World Heritage Properties in the Asia-Pacific Region: : Summaries of Periodic Reports 2003 by property, Section II pp71–72. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. After the fall of the Slave dynasty, a succession of Turkic and Central Asian dynasties, the Khilji dynasty, the Tughluq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodhi dynasty held power in the late medieval period, and built a sequence of forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of Delhi.Battuta\'s Travels: Delhi, capital of Muslim India In 1398, Timur Lenk invaded India on the pretext that the Muslim sultans of Delhi were too much tolerant to their Hindu subjects. Timur entered Delhi and the city was sacked, destroyed, and left in ruins.The Islamic World to 1600: The Mongol Invasions (The Timurid Empire) Delhi was a major center of sufism (a mystic tradition of Islam) during the Sultanate period.Upadhyay, R (16 February 2004). Sufism in India: Its Origin, History and Politics. South Asia Analysis Group. Retrieved on 2007-01-20. In 1526, Zahiruddin Babur defeated the last Lodhi sultan in the First Battle of Panipat and founded the Mughal Empire that ruled from Delhi, Agra and Lahore.
The Mughal Empire ruled northern India for more than three centuries, with a five-year hiatus during Sher Shah Suri\'s reign in the mid-16th century.Sher Shah - The Lion King. India\'s History : Medieval India. indhistory.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-22. In the year 1556, a Hindu General Hemu Vikramaditya defeated Mughals and had his coronation at Purana Quila and re-established Vikramaditya dynasty. Mughal emperor Akbar shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi. Shah Jahan built the seventh city of Delhi that bears his name (Shahjahanabad), and is more commonly known as the Old City or Old Delhi. The old city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire since 1638. Nader Shah defeated the Mughal army at the huge Battle of Karnal in February, 1739. After this victory, Nader captured and sacked Delhi, carrying away many treasures, including the Peacock Throne.Iran in the Age of the Raj In 1761, Delhi was raided by Ahmed Shah Abdali after the Third battle of Panipat. At the Battle of Delhi on 11 September 1803, General Lake\'s British forces defeated the Marathas.
Delhi came under direct British control after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Shortly after the Rebellion, Calcutta was declared the capital of British India and Delhi was made a district province of the Punjab. In 1911, Delhi was again declared as the capital of British India. Parts of the old city were pulled down to create New Delhi; a monumental new quarter of the city designed by the British architect Edwin Lutyens to house the government buildings. New Delhi, also known as Lutyens\' Delhi, was officially declared as the seat of the Government of India and the capital of the republic after independence on 15 August 1947. During the partition of India thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab and Sindh migrated to Delhi. Migration to Delhi from the rest of India continues, contributing more to the rise of Delhi\'s population than the birth rate, which is declining."Fall in Delhi birth rate fails to arrest population rise", The Hindu, January 3 2005. Retrieved on 2006-12-19.
In 1984, the assassination of Indira Gandhi (Prime Minister of India) led to violent backlash against the Sikh community, resulting in over two thousand seven hundred deaths. Who are guilty?. People\'s Union for Civil Liberties. Retrieved on 2006-05-13. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi.THE CONSTITUTION (SIXTY-NINTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1991. THE CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) ACTS, THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA. National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India. Retrieved on 2007-01-08. The Act gave Delhi its own legislative assembly, though with limited powers.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi is spread over an area of 1,483 km² (573 sq mi), of which 783 km² (302 sq mi) is designated rural, and 700 km² (270 sq mi) urban. Delhi has a maximum length of 51.9 km (32 mi) and the maximum width of 48.48 km (30 mi). There are three local bodies (statutory towns) namely, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (area is 1,397.3 km² (540 sq mi)), New Delhi Municipal Committee (42.7 km² (16 sq mi)) and Delhi Cantonment Board (43 km² (17 sq mi)).Introduction. THE NEW DELHI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ACT, 1994. New Delhi Municipal Council. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
Delhi is located at , and lies in northern India. It borders the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh on East and Haryana on West, North and South. Delhi lies almost entirely in the Gangetic plains. Two prominent features of the geography of Delhi are the Yamuna flood plain and the Delhi ridge. The low-lying Yamuna flood plains provide fertile alluvial soil suitable for agriculture. However, these plains are prone to recurrent floods. Reaching up to a height of 318 m (1043 ft),Mohan, Madan (April 2002). GIS-Based Spatial Information Integration, Modeling and Digital Mapping: A New Blend of Tool for Geospatial Environmental Health Analysis for Delhi Ridge (PDF). Spatial Information for Health Monitoring and Population Management p5. FIG XXII International Congress. Retrieved on 2007-02-03. the ridge forms the most dominating feature in this region. It originates from the Aravalli Range in the south and encircles the west, northeast and northwest parts of the city. Yamuna, a sacred river in Hinduism, is the only major river flowing through Delhi. Most of the city, including New Delhi, lies west of the river. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara. Delhi falls under seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to major earthquakes. Hazard profiles of Indian districts (PDF). National Capacity Building Project in Disaster Management. UNDP. Archived from the original on []. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
Delhi has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with the monsoon season in between. Winter starts in November and peaks in January and is notorious for its heavy fog."Fog continues to disrupt flights, trains", The Hindu, 2006-01-07. Retrieved on 2006-05-16. Extreme temperatures range from −0.6 °C (30.9 °F) to 47 °C (117 °F)."At 0.2 degrees Celsius, Delhi gets its coldest day", Hindustan Times, 2006-01-08. Retrieved on 2006-04-29. Archived from the original on []. The annual mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 14 °C to 33 °C (58 °F to 92 °F). Weatherbase entry for Delhi. Canty and Associates LLC. Retrieved on 2007-01-16. The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm (28.1 inches), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August. The average date of the advent of monsoon winds in Delhi is 29 June. Kurian, Vinson. "Monsoon reaches Delhi two days ahead of schedule", The Hindu Business Line, 28 June 2005. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
Map showing the nine districts of Delhi
The Delhi metropolitan area lies within the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). The NCT has three local municipal corporations: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board. MCD is one of the largest municipal corporations in the world providing civic amenities to an estimated 13.78 million people. About Us. Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-05-13. The capital of India, New Delhi, falls under the administration of NDMC. The chairperson of the NDMC is appointed by the Government of India in consultation with the Chief Minister of Delhi.
Delhi has four major satellite cities which lie outside the National Capital Territory of Delhi. These are Gurgaon and Faridabad (in Haryana), and NOIDA and Ghaziabad (in Uttar Pradesh). Delhi is divided into nine districts. Each district (division) is headed by a Deputy Commissioner and has three subdivisions. A Subdivision Magistrate heads each subdivision. All Deputy Commissioners report to the Divisional Commissioner. The District Administration of Delhi is the enforcing department for all kinds of State and Central Government policies and exercises supervisory powers over numerous other functionaries of the Government.
The Delhi High Court has jurisdiction over Delhi. Delhi also has lower courts; the Small Causes Court for civil cases, and the Sessions Court for criminal cases. The Delhi Police, headed by the Police Commissioner, is one of the largest metropolitan police forces in the world.History of Delhi Police. Delhi Police Headquarters, New Delhi, India. Retrieved on 2006-12-19. Delhi is administratively divided into nine police-zones, which are further subdivided into 95 local police stations.Poile Stations. Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-12-19.
The North Block, in New Delhi, houses key government offices
As a special union territory, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has its own Legislative Assembly, Lieutenant Governor, Council of Ministers and Chief Minister. The legislative assembly seats are filled by direct election from territorial constituencies in the NCT. However, the Union Government of India and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi jointly administer New Delhi. The legislative assembly was re-established in 1993 for the first time since 1956, with direct federal rule in the span. In addition, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) handles civic administration for the city as part of the Panchayati Raj act. New Delhi, an urban area in Delhi, is the seat of both the State Government of Delhi and the Government of India. The Parliament of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) and the Supreme Court of India are located in New Delhi. There are 70 assembly constituencies and seven Lok Sabha (Indian parliament\'s lower house) constituencies in Delhi.Delhi: Assembly Constituencies. Compare Infobase Limited. Retrieved on 2006-12-19."Lok Sabha constituencies get a new profile", The Hindu, The Hindu, September 07 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-19.
Delhi was a traditional stronghold of the Indian National Congress, also known as the Congress Party. In the 1990s the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the leadership of Madan Lal Khurana came into power. However in 1998, Congress regained power. Sheila Dixit of Congress is the incumbent Chief Minister. The Congress retained power in the Legislative Assembly in the 2003 election as well by a large margin. However, in 2007, the BJP scored a crushing victory over the ruling Congress in the MCD election, signalling a near certain return to power in the elections of Dec, 2008. Both parties have advocated full-fledged statehood for Delhi, but the process to establish this has been slow.
The water supply in Delhi is managed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). As of 2006, it supplied 650 MGD (million gallons per day) of water, while the water demand for 2005–06 was estimated to be 963 MGD.Chapter 13: Water Supply and Sewerage (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006 pp147–162. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. The rest of the demand is met by private and public tube wells and hand pumps. At 240 MGD, the Bhakra storage is the largest water source for DJB, followed by river Yamuna and Ganges. With falling groundwater level and rising population density, Delhi faces severely acute water shortage. Delhi daily produces 8000 tonnes of solid wastes which is dumped at three landfill sites by MCD.Joshi, Sandeep. "MCD developing new landfill site", The Hindu, June 19, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-19. The daily domestic waste water production is 470 MGD and industrial waste water is 70 MGD.Gadhok, Taranjot Kaur. Risks in Delhi: Environmental concerns. Natural Hazard Management. GISdevelopment.net. Retrieved on 2006-12-19. A large portion of the sewerage flows untreated into the river Yamuna.
The city\'s per capita electricity consumption is about 1,265 kWh but actual demand is much more.Chapter 11: Energy (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–06 pp117–129. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. In 1997, Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) replaced Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking which was managed by the MCD. The DVB itself cannot generate adequate power to meet the city\'s demand and borrows power from India\'s Northern Region Grid. As a result, Delhi faces a power shortage resulting in frequent blackouts and brownouts, especially during the summer season when energy demand is at its peak. Several industrial units in Delhi rely on their own electrical generators to meet their electric demand and for back up during Delhi\'s frequent and disruptive power cuts. A few years ago, the power sector in Delhi was handed over to private companies. The distribution of electricity is carried out by companies run by Tata Power and Reliance Energy. The Delhi Fire Service runs 43 fire stations that attend about 15,000 fire and rescue calls per year.About Us. Delhi Fire Service. Govt. of NCT of Delhi. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and private enterprises like Hutch, Airtel, Idea cellular, Reliance Infocomm and Tata Indicom provide telephone and cell phone service to the city. Cellular coverage is extensive, and both GSM and CDMA (from Reliance and Tata Indicom) services are available. Affordable broadband internet penetration is increasing in the city.Joshi, Sandeep. "MTNL stems decline in phone surrender rate", New Delhi Printer Friendly Page, The Hindu, 2 January 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
Urban extensions of Delhi like Gurgaon and Noida have symbiotic association with the city.
With an estimated net State Domestic Product (SDP) of US$95 billion (FY 2005),Chapter 2: State Income (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006 pp8–16. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi is the second largest commercial center in South Asia after Mumbai. Delhi has a per capita income of 53,976 INR which is around 2.5 times of the national average. The tertiary sector contributes 70.95% of Delhi\'s gross SDP followed by secondary and primary sectors with 25.2% and 3.85% contribution respectively. Delhi\'s workforce constitutes 32.82% of the population showing an increase of 52.52% between 1991 and 2001.Chapter 5: Employment and Unemployment (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–06 pp59–65. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi\'s unemployment rate decreased from 12.57% in 1999–2000 to 4.63% in 2003. In December 2004, 636,000 people were registered with various employment exchange programmes in Delhi.
In 2001, the total workforce in all government (union and state) and quasi government sector was 620,000. In comparison, organised private sector employed 219,000. Delhi\'s service sector has expanded due in part to the large skilled English-speaking workforce that has attracted many multinational companies. Key service industries include information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media and tourism. Delhi\'s manufacturing industry has also grown considerably as many consumer goods industries have established manufacturing units and headquarters in and around Delhi. Delhi\'s large consumer market, coupled with the easy availability of skilled labour, has attracted foreign investment in Delhi. In 2001, the manufacturing sector employed 1,440,000 workers while the number of industrial units was 129,000.Chapter 9: Industrial Development (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–06 pp94–107. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Construction, power, telecommunications, health and community services, and real estate form integral parts of Delhi\'s economy. Delhi\'s retail industry is one of the fastest growing industries in India.India\'s Retail Industry. India Brand Equity Foundation. Retrieved on 2007-01-04. However, as in the rest of India, the fast growth of retail is expected to affect the traditional unorganized retail trading system.Majumder, Sanjoy (21 May 2007). Supermarkets devour Indian traders. South Asia. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
Delhi metro, operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited
Indira Gandhi International Airport is the main airport in Delhi.
Public transport in Delhi is provided by buses, auto rickshaws, a rapid transit system, taxis and suburban railways.
Buses are the most popular means of transport catering to about 60% of the total demand.Chapter 12: Transport (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006 pp130–146. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. The state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a major bus service provider for the city. The DTC operates the world\'s largest fleet of environment-friendly CNG buses.Citizen Charter. Delhi Transport Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. Though pollution from road transport has decreased in recent years, it is still at a high level.Anjali, Dhal Samanta. "Pollution on the rise in Capital", New Delhi, The Hindu, 4 February 2005. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
The Delhi Metro, a mass rapid transit system, serves many parts of Delhi. As of 2007, the metro operates three lines with a total length of 65 km (40 miles) and 59 stations while several other lines are under construction.Station Information. www.delhimetrorail.com. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC). Retrieved on 2007-01-14. Line 1 runs between Rithala and Shahdara. Line 2 runs in an underground tunnel between Vishwa Vidyalaya and the Central Secretariat. Line 3 runs between Indraprastha, Barakhamba Road, and Dwarka. The network is being expanded at a rapid pace with Phase-II under construction (128 km), expected to be completed by 2010. Phase III and IV will be completed by 2015 and 2020 respectively, creating a network spanning 413.8 km, longer than London\'s Undergroundmap of extensionswww.delhimetrorail.com/commuters/images/metro_map_big.jpj
Railways served only 1% of the local traffic until 2003. However Delhi is a major junction in the rail map of India and is the headquarters of the Northern Railway. The four main railway stations are Old Delhi, Nizamuddin Railway Station, Sarai Rohilla and New Delhi Railway Station.
Auto rickshaws are an important and popular means of public transportation in Delhi, as they charge a lower fare than taxis. Most run on Compressed Natural Gas and are yellow and green in colour.
Taxis are not an integral part of Delhi public transport, though they are easily available. The DTC, the Indian Tourism Ministry and various private operators operate most taxis. The Tourism Ministry grants private companies permits to operate taxis.
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) is situated in the southwestern corner of Delhi and serves for domestic and international connections. In 2006–07, the airport recorded a traffic of more than 20.44 million passengers,Indira Gandhi International AirportDelhi – Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) information. Essential Travel Ltd., UK.. Retrieved on 2006-04-29. making it one of the busiest airports in South Asia. In future the airport will handle more than 100 million passengers per annum (more than what Atlanta airport, currently world\'s busiest airport, handles today).Indira Gandhi International Airport Safdarjung Airport is the other airfield in Delhi used for general aviation purpose.VIDD - Airport. Great Circle Search. Karl L. Swartz. Retrieved on 2007-01-14. The proposed Taj International Airport is expected to be operational by 2012http://in.news.yahoo.com/080103/32/6p73p.html
Private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport. At 1922.32 km of road length per 100 km², Delhi has one of the highest road densities in India. Delhi is well connected to other parts of India by five National Highways: NH 1, 2, 8, 10 and 24. Roads in Delhi are maintained by MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board, Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Development Authority.I.Prasada Rao; Dr. P.K. Kanchan, Dr. P.K. Nanda. GIS Based Maintenance Management System (GMMS) For Major Roads Of Delhi. Map India 2006: Transportation. GISdevelopment.net. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
Delhi\'s high population growth rate, coupled with high economic growth rate has resulted in an ever increasing demand for transport creating excessive pressure on the city\'s existent transport infrastructure. In order to meet the transport demand in Delhi, the State and Union government started the construction of a mass rapid transit system, including the Delhi Metro. In 1998, the Supreme Court of India ordered all public transport vehicles to use compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel instead of diesel and other hydro-carbons.Armin Rosencranz; Michael Jackson. Introduction (PDF). The Delhi Pollution Case: The Supreme Court of India and the Limits of Judicial Power p.3. indlaw.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
The Akshardham Temple in Delhi is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world.[1]
Many ethnic groups and cultures are represented in Delhi dominated by Jats, making it a cosmopolitan city. A seat of political power and a centre of commerce, the city attracts workers—both blue collar and white collar—from all parts of India, further enhancing its diverse character. A diplomatic hub, represented by embassies of 160 countries, Delhi has a large expatriate population as well.
According to the 2001 Census of India, the population of Delhi that year was 13,782,976. The corresponding population density was 9,294 persons per km², with a sex ratio of 821 women per 1000 men, and a literacy rate of 81.82%. The literacy rate on increase day by day with more number of people studying higher and professional education. By 2003, the National Capital Territory of Delhi had a population of 14.1 million people, making it the second largest metropolitan area in India after Mumbai.World Urbanization Prospects The 2003 Revision. ([PDF) p7. United Nations. Retrieved on 2006-04-29. This included 295,000 people living in New Delhi and another 125,000 in Delhi Cantonment. By 2004, the estimated population had increased to 15,279,000. That year, the birth rate, death rate and infant mortality rate (per 1000 population) were 20.03, 5.59 and 13.08, respectively.Chapter 3: Demographic Profile (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006 pp17–31. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.. Currently the city\'s municipal population is expected to be 17 million, making it the world\'s most populous cityList of cities by population (but not the most populous metropolitan region, that being Tokyo) According a 1999–2000 estimate, the total number of people living below the poverty line in Delhi was 1,149,000 (which was 8.23% of the total population).Chapter 21: Poverty Line in Delhi (PDF). Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006 pp227–231. Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. In 2001, the population of Delhi increased by 285,000 as a result of migration and by an additional 215,000 as a result of natural population growth. The resulting high migration rate, made Delhi is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. By 2015, Delhi is expected to be the third largest agglomeration in the world after Tokyo and Mumbai.
The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, commonly known as Jama Masjid, is the largest mosque in India.
Hinduism is the religion of 82% of Delhi\'s population. There are also large communities of Muslims (11.7%), Sikhs (4.0%), Jains (1.1%) and Christians (0.9%) in the city http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/ 2001 Indian Census Data. Other minorities include Parsis, Anglo-Indians, Buddhists and Jews.Data on Religion 1. Census of India 2001. Retrieved on 2006-05-16.
Hindi is the principal spoken and written language of the city. Other languages commonly spoken in the city are English, Punjabi and Urdu. Of these, English is an associate official language, and Punjabi and Urdu second official languages. Linguistic groups from all over India are well represented in the city; among them are Maithili, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi. Punjabis, Jats and Gujjars are examples of the various ethnic communities in the city.
In 2005, Delhi accounted for the highest percentage (16.2%) of the crimes reported in the 35 cities in India with populations of one million or more.National Crime Records Bureau (2005). "Crimes in Megacities", Crime in India-2005 (PDF), Ministry of Home Affairs, pp.159–160. The city also has the highest rate of crime against women (27.6 compared to national average rate of 14.1 per 100,000) and against children (6.5 compared to national average of 1.4 per 100,000) in the country.National Crime Records Bureau (2005). "Snapshots-2005", Crime in India-2005 (PDF), Ministry of Home Affairs, p3.
Delhi\'s culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the capital of India. This is exemplified by the many monuments of significance found in the city; the Archaeological Survey of India recognises 175 monuments in Delhi as national heritage sites. The Old City is the site where the Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architectural marvels like the Jama Masjid (India\'s largest mosque)Jama Masjid, India\'s largest mosque. Radio Singapore. Retrieved on 2006-11-14. and Red Fort. Three World Heritage Sites—the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun\'s Tomb—are located in Delhi.Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List: India. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved on 2007-01-13. Other monuments include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar (an 18th century astronomical observatory) and the Purana Qila (a 16th century fortress). The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham and the Bahá\'í Lotus Temple are examples of modern architecture. Raj Ghat and associated memorials houses memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and other notable personalities. New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Important structures include the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat, Rajpath, the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk. Safdarjung\'s Tomb is an example of the Mughal gardens style
Delhi\'s association and geographic proximity to the capital, New Delhi, has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhi\'s birthday) are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Delhi. On India\'s Independence Day (15 August) the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom.Independence Day. 123independenceday.com. Compare Infobase Limited. Retrieved on 2007-01-04. The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India\'s cultural diversity and military might.Ray Choudhury, Ray Choudhury (January 28 2002). R-Day parade, an anachronism?. The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.Fairs & Festivals of Delhi. Delhi Travel. India Tourism.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak\'s Birthday, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Maha Shivaratri, Eid and Buddha Jayanti. The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event.Tankha, Madhur. "It\'s Sufi and rock at Qutub Fest", New Delhi, The Hindu, 15 December 2005. Retrieved on 2007-01-13. Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi.
Punjabi cuisine and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in several parts of Delhi.Cuisines of Delhi. India: Delhi. indiasite.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.Delhi Cuisine. Delhi. HolidaysHub.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-14. Due to Delhi\'s large cosmopolitan population, cuisines from every part of India, including Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Hyderabadi cuisines, and South Indian food items like idli, sambar and dosa are widely available. Local delicacies include Chaat and Dahi-Papri. There are several food outlets in Delhi serving international cuisine including Italian and Chinese.
Historically, Delhi has always remained an important trading centre in northern India. Old Delhi still contains legacies of its rich Mughal past that can be found among the old city\'s tangle of snaking lanes and teeming bazaars.Singh, Sarina. "Delhi: Old, new, sleek and rambunctious too", Travels with Lonely Planet: India, The Salt Lake Tribune,
