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
People can now take a driving test in the evening in Delhi
After seven months of planning, the transport department on Wednesday launched evening driving tests at three of its automated test tracks for those seeking a permanent driving licence
Published on May 25, 2022 11:31 PM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Vinai Kumar Saxena appointed LG of Delhi
Vinai Kumar Saxena, who worked in the private sector for three decades before heading the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) of the central government for six years, was named as the new lieutenant governor of Delhi on Monday.
Updated on May 24, 2022 01:48 AM IST
Sweta Goswami and Maulik Pathak, New Delhi/ahmedabad
3 days on, no clarity on cause of collapse of Ramban tunnel: Govt
The roads and transport ministry said in a statement that a three-member expert panel continued to investigate the matter
Updated on May 23, 2022 01:00 AM IST
Centre forms expert panel headed by IIT prof to probe Ramban tunnel collapse
The central government has asked the newly-formed expert pannel to submit a detailed report on the incident, the reasons for such frequent accidents and remedial measures within 10 days.
Updated on May 22, 2022 03:24 PM IST
Centre pulls up states over pending dues to gencos, coal producer
Union power minster RK Singh also wrote separately to states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal and Karnataka to lift the coal allotted to them on time or face cuts in allocation
Published on May 20, 2022 04:31 AM IST
Import coal for blending by June 15 or face 5% domestic supply cuts: Power ministry to Gencos
Power minister R K Singh has also separately written to chief ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal for delaying the process of coal imports
Published on May 19, 2022 12:36 AM IST
Delhi LG Anil Baijal quits citing ‘personal reasons’
“He submitted his resignation to the President... he cited personal reasons for the same,” said a spokesperson in the LG office.
Updated on May 19, 2022 01:40 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Delhi govt seeks report from MCDs on demolition drives since April 1
The move has come after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday criticised the anti-encroachment drives launched by the BJP-led MCDs, describing them as “bulldozer politics”
Updated on May 19, 2022 02:53 AM IST
Mundka fire victims’ kin to get ₹10L aid, ₹50k for injured: Kejriwal
Kejriwal was accompanied by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia (who is also state labour minister) and industries minister Satyendar Jain.
Published on May 15, 2022 03:41 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
‘Won’t spare those responsible’: Kejriwal orders magisterial probe in Mudka fire
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced ₹10 lakh compensation to the families of the victims who died in the Mundka fire incident that claimed 27 lives on Friday.
Updated on May 14, 2022 12:51 PM IST
Delhi RWAs demand reduction in fixed costs on power bills, audit of discoms
Many, including those belonging to affluent colonies, said they will not opt out of the power subsidy scheme, which chief minister Arvind Kejriwal made optional last week, with the proposed change coming into effect from October 1
Updated on May 12, 2022 11:35 PM IST
Delhi: After Covid halt, will University Special buses hit streets again?
The bus service which ran from North Campus was halted in March 2020 during the first lockdown. Once a mainstay for students, the U-Special has over the years lost ground to the Delhi Metro
Updated on May 12, 2022 01:55 AM IST
Govt asks power firms to increase coal import
In another step to increase electricity generation, the ministry is also planning to activate non-operational coal fired plants to fill the energy shortfall, the official said.
Updated on May 10, 2022 03:19 AM IST
From Oct 1, power subsidy in Delhi for consumers who opt in: CM Kejriwal
Kejriwal said the move would ensure that the scheme benefitted the people who needed it.
Updated on May 06, 2022 05:29 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Now, free bus rides for Capital’s labour force
Launching the scheme on Wednesday, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the labour portfolio, said workers registered with the DBOCWWB include not just construction workers, but also are skilled labourers such as electricians, carpenters, painters and plumbers, among others.
Published on May 05, 2022 01:12 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Power shortage eases up but officials remain wary
Though the unusually hot summer has ensured demand for electricity remained high, the shortfall reduced in the past two days for the first time since April 1, power ministry data showed.
Updated on May 04, 2022 04:21 AM IST
Power panel meets as Delhi's demand hits record for 1st week of May
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) took a slew of measures to ensure there are no procedural delays in procurement of power.
Published on May 03, 2022 01:22 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
As heatwave surges, govt scrambles to fill coal need
On Friday, the country saw a record peak demand of 207,111 MW. Power shortage continued to remain high at 8,120 MW on Friday, which was 10,778 MW on Thursday.
Published on Apr 30, 2022 11:53 PM IST
Kejriwal calls for concrete steps to tackle coal crisis
“There is a huge shortage of power in the country. So far we have managed it somehow in Delhi," tweeted Arvind Kejriwal on Friday.
Published on Apr 30, 2022 02:02 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Power cuts across states amid coal supply crunch
To address the issue, the Union government cancelled 21 pairs of passenger trains (totalling 753 trips) till well into next month to make way for freight trains.
Updated on Apr 30, 2022 06:19 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Power plants Delhi sources electricity from getting regular coal supply: NTPC
Delhi’s power demand crossed the 6,000 megawatts (MW) per day mark for the first time in April on Thursday.
Updated on Apr 29, 2022 01:55 PM IST
Coal shortage may hit power supply to hospitals, Metro, key services: Delhi govt
Delhi is experiencing abnormally high temperatures in April and the power demand of the city has increased by 34% since the beginning of the month, according to power utilities in the city.
Updated on Apr 29, 2022 10:35 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Govt mandates renewables mix in output of generation companies
New Delhi: To reduce the country’s coal demand and to make electricity prices cheaper or more attractive for distribution companies (discoms), Union power minister RK Singh on Thursday said the government will make bundling of conventional electricity with renewable energy mandatory for all generation companies in the country, including private ones
Published on Apr 29, 2022 12:20 AM IST
Centre blames states’ dues for coal shortage
India on Thursday met a recordpeak power demand of 204.653 GW — the highest the country has ever met (overall) — according to the power ministry, which has projected the demand to further peak at about 215GW in the coming months.
Updated on Apr 29, 2022 06:04 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
India’s power demand touches all-time high of 201 GW
In March this year, the growth in energy demand was around 8.9%. It is expected to reach about 215-220 GW (215,000-220,000MW) in the months of May-June, the ministry said.
Updated on Apr 27, 2022 05:42 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Amid coal supply crunch, govt reworks allocation plan
While Thursday’s demand was not even the highest the country has ever seen, at least 3,000 MW of power demand could not be met on the same day
Published on Apr 22, 2022 11:57 PM IST
EV scooters catch fire: Nitin Gadkari warns of penalties, says guidelines coming
India has set a target of 80 per cent EV sales penetration for two-and three-wheelers, 70 per cent for commercial vehicles, 40 per cent for buses, and 30 per cent for private cars.
Published on Apr 22, 2022 10:03 AM IST
In draft battery swapping policy, NITI Aayog proposes slashing GST, incentives
NITI Aayog’s draft battery-swapping policy has proposed sops for electric vehicles (EVs) with swappable batteries and reducing the goods and services tax on lithium-ion batteries from 18% to 5%.
Updated on Apr 22, 2022 12:07 AM IST
Delhi: Masks back in city as Covid cases spike, schools to stay open
Most experts see a direct correlation between the removal of the mask mandate, on April 2, and the increase in cases. On April 2, when the mandate was removed, Delhi was seeing 105 daily cases on average (seven-day average). On Wednesday, when it was reintroduced, the corresponding number was 544.
Updated on Apr 21, 2022 06:17 AM IST
Sweta Goswami, New Delhi
Use of masks made mandatory in public places amid rising Covid cases in Delhi
Schools will not to be closed but standard operating procedures will be prepared for them in consultation with experts
Updated on Apr 20, 2022 02:07 PM IST