Sweta Goswami writes on politics, urban development, transportation, energy and social welfare. Based in Delhi, she tracks government policies and suggests corrections based on public feedback and on-ground implementation through her reports. She has also covered the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) since its inception.
Articles by Sweta Goswami
Delhi to roll back excise policy but after a month
The 468 private liquor shops operating in the national capital were set to shut from August 1 as the term of their licences under the excise policy 2021-22 expires on July 31.
Updated on Jul 31, 2022 05:33 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Delhi considering going back to its old excise policy
The plan comes before the current excise regime expires on Sunday, which seemed inevitable on Friday since government offices do not work over the weekend.
Updated on Jul 30, 2022 07:19 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Kejriwal inaugurates EV charging stations at 7 bus depots
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated seven electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Delhi on Wednesday, taking the total number of operational charging stations in Delhi to 1,892 having more than 2,000 charing points in total
Updated on Jul 28, 2022 12:47 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Tussle on, but Delhi excise policy may be extended
To prevent liquor shops in the national capital from downing shutters as their permits expire on August 1, Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena is likely to extend for the third time the old excise policy of 2021-22, an official said
Updated on Jul 27, 2022 01:45 AM IST
Delhi LG asks chief secy to identify officials involved in liquor case
According to people in Saxena’s office, who asked not to be named, the chief secretary will also be asked to look into whether there was cartelisation in Delhi’s liquor market benefitting a handful of companies.
Updated on Jul 24, 2022 12:51 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
State power generation utilities must continue to blend 10% imported coal: Govt
The country’s thermal power plants will be able to maintain coal inventory of only between 22-25 million tonnes at any given point during the ongoing monsoon season, a scenario that could turn precarious if electricity demand spikes, ministry officials said on Saturday.
Updated on Jul 24, 2022 05:45 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
L-G calls for CBI probe into Delhi excise policy
The complaint sent by the LG contends that several procedures were tweaked in order to benefit private liquor barons and individuals, and that an investigation must be carried out to find kickbacks, according to people in Saxena’s office, who pointed fingers at the “highest echelons of the government leading up to deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia”.
Updated on Jul 23, 2022 07:36 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
LG seeks CBI probe into Delhi govt’s liquor policy; Kejriwal calls case ‘fake’
The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government introduced the new liquor regime in November, 2021 saying it will clean up malpractices and improve user experience
Updated on Jul 22, 2022 04:40 PM IST
CM Arvind Kejriwal can’t visit Singapore, says Delhi LG
Kejriwal said that he will now seek approval from the ministry of external affairs (MEA) for the same.
Updated on Jul 22, 2022 05:03 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
LG Saxena rejects Kejriwal’s request to visit Singapore; CM to now apply to MEA
Responding to the development, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said Kejriwal will seek approval from the ministry of external affairs (MEA) for the same
Updated on Jul 21, 2022 05:29 PM IST
After transport dept, Delhi to soon introduce faceless services in revenue dept
Once introduced after a couple of pilot runs, the faceless services will also bypass the government’s ongoing doorstep delivery of services for certain documents, implying no “mobile sahayak” will then be needed to deliver the document as they would all be digitally approved, signed and generated.
Updated on Jul 21, 2022 02:46 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
6,600 EVs recalled by 3 manufacturers in April after fire incidents: Govt
Incidents of fire in electric vehicles were reported in Tamil Nadu in March and Andhra Pradesh in April, the government told the Lok Sabha
Published on Jul 20, 2022 10:09 AM IST
Free power, schools, health care helping lay solid foundation: Delhi CM Kejriwal
In a press conference on Saturday, the AAP national convener also claimed that some political leaders in the country were running a “hate campaign” against him.
Published on Jul 17, 2022 12:53 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
AAP extends support to Yashwant Sinha for President
‘We duly acknowledge and respect NDA nominee Draupadi Murmu’s candidature in the Presidential election, but the party's political affairs committee has deemed it fit to support the opposition candidate,’ said AAP MP Sanjay Singh.
Published on Jul 16, 2022 11:59 PM IST
‘Respect Droupadi Murmu but will vote for Yashwant Sinha: AAP on Prez poll
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its support for the Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha after a meeting of the party’s political affairs committee (PAC) chaired by AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal
Updated on Jul 16, 2022 02:39 PM IST
New Grap curbs likely to impact more than 950K diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR
In all, the national capital has 10 million registered vehicles, with 1.12 million of these conforming to Bharat BS-VI, a standard that became mandatory for all new cars registered after April 1, 2020.
Published on Jul 15, 2022 01:12 AM IST
From Aug, power bills in Delhi to come with ‘opt-in’ form for subsidies
Residents who don’t submit their forms till end-September will not receive subsidies from October, officials said.
Published on Jul 13, 2022 04:45 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Dwarka e-way delayed, to now wrap up in 2023
The 29 kilometre-long corridor, which will also be the country’s first urban elevated expressway, was earlier slated to be ready by this August. “Now, the entire stretch will be ready by September 2023.
Published on Jul 12, 2022 05:33 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Delhi power bills jump 2-6% as key surcharge hiked
The surcharge increase came into effect from June 10 this year and will have reflected in bills consumers received in July.
Published on Jul 11, 2022 04:28 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Delhi assembly has right to seek info from govt depts, officials: Panel
On Tuesday (July 5), Delhi assembly deputy speaker Rakhi Birla, during the last day of the two-day monsoon session, constituted a panel to find out since when the services department of the Delhi government has not been responding to the queries raised by the legislators in the House.
Updated on Jul 10, 2022 04:52 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Delhi: Bus dashboard to help state get operational data
The dashboard will also have a rating system for drivers -- similar to those in Uber and Ola apps -- besides tracking staff punctuality, and zone and depot-wise accident and on-road bus breakdown data, officials in the know of the matter have said.
Published on Jul 08, 2022 03:02 AM IST
Delhi govt launches programme to upskill construction workers
The programme was launched by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who explained that workers will undergo upskilling that will help boost their income.
Published on Jul 07, 2022 02:53 AM IST
‘Block your dates’: 30-day shopping fest from Jan 28 next year, says Kejriwal
Shoppers of all age-groups will be given discounts, live entertainment, food trails, games, and contests in which they can win prizes, he added.
Published on Jul 07, 2022 02:11 AM IST
Delhi to host India’s biggest shopping festival in 2023: CM Arvind Kejriwal
For those living outside Delhi, Kejriwal said the government will also rope in travel agencies to create special holiday packages including airline or train fare, hotel accommodation and visit to the festival
Updated on Jul 07, 2022 12:35 AM IST
‘Biggest proof of honesty’: Kejriwal, Sisodia hail CAG report on surplus revenue
The report stated that Delhi’s revenue surplus in 2019-20 was ₹7,499 crore though the revenue expenditure increased by 50.47% from ₹26,343 crore in 2015-16 to ₹39,637 crore in 2019-20
Updated on Jul 06, 2022 12:33 PM IST
CAG audit flags gaps in government schemes
The audit reports were tabled by the government in the Delhi assembly on Tuesday.
Updated on Jul 06, 2022 10:56 AM IST
Aggregator fleets must make EV switch by April 2030: Govt policy
The policy, seen by HT, says cab aggregators will have to apply for a licence to operate in Delhi, register their drivers with the government, and set up easily accessible customer care channels.
Published on Jul 06, 2022 02:07 AM IST
BJP planning to turn Delhi into a UT, will junk elections: Kejriwal in House
Referring to his recent visit to Gujarat, Kejriwal said nobody is speaking against the BJP misrule because they were afraid.
Published on Jul 06, 2022 01:01 AM IST
Trucks and buses to comply with fuel consumption standards from April 2023: Govt
The Union road transport ministry has issed a draft notification, according to which all heavy vehicles will have to be tested for constant speed fuel consumption standard, and must also comply with fuel consumption targets
Published on Jul 05, 2022 04:23 PM IST
BJP, AAP lock horns over waterlogging on day one of Delhi assembly session
The monsoon session of the Delhi assembly got off to a raucous start on Monday with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) locking horns over the recurring problem of waterlogging during the rains and neither side being able to put forward any solution even after an hour-long discussion
Updated on Jul 04, 2022 11:57 PM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi