By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Delhi Power Minister Shri Ashish Sood has called for a concerted effort by solar vendors and stakeholders to transform the national capital into the ‘Solar Capital’ of India, while stressing rapid execution and large-scale adoption of solar energy.
Addressing a Solar Vendors Meet regarding the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, Sood outlined the Delhi Government’s roadmap to accelerate rooftop solar installations across the city. He said the government intends to work in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s emphasis on “speed” and “scale”.
“We want to make Delhi the ‘Solar Capital’ of India. Scale and Speed… so we are his disciples and will try to work with him at the same speed,” Sood said.
The Minister said the government was committed to removing bottlenecks that could discourage consumers and vendors from participating in the solar programme. Under the new implementation framework, the Delhi Government will take responsibility for payments to vendors, addressing concerns over upfront costs for consumers.
“Consumers also hesitate to pay upfront… So, the government has removed the barrier between you and the consumer. We will pay the full amount. The government is taking responsibility,” Sood said.
For transparent and efficient implementation, the Power Department has also launched a dedicated registration portal for solar vendors. Sood invited industry stakeholders to submit suggestions on improving the implementation process and making the programme more seamless and faster.
“If you have any other suggestions on how we can implement this project better, more seamlessly, and at a higher speed, you are more than welcome,” he said.
The Minister said the government aims to facilitate 2.30 lakh solar panel installations over the coming months. The initiative is expected to involve an estimated investment of ₹2,600–₹2,700 crore over the next six months.
Sood said the expansion of solar energy would have wider economic benefits for Delhi, including boosting the city’s GDP, generating local employment and supporting sustainable growth.
The initiative marks an ambitious push towards expanding renewable energy adoption in the national capital, with the Delhi Government seeking active participation from solar vendors and other stakeholders to achieve its targeted scale.
