Half of Delhi homes have more than five people living together

Economic Survey Northeast Delhi ranked highest in population category with 37,346 persons/ sqkm.

Delhi seems to be inching closer towards a total urban demographic and with it new challenges in infrastructure, education and health. The 2012-2013 economic survey of Delhi shows an increase of just under 2,000 persons per square kilometre.

According to the economic survey, the population density in Delhi has increased from 9,340 persons per sq km in 2001 to 11,297 persons per sq km in 2011. The survey reads, "Density of population in Delhi was highest among all union states and territories in 2011 and the Northeast district ranked first with 37,346 persons per sqkm."

This make development of infrastructure in city a key issue.

Last week, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who also holds the Finance portfolio had indicated that the last budget before the Assembly elections could concentrate on infrastructure and education. Incidentally, the Congress also intends to contest the 2013 Assembly elections on the development agenda.

"In our last budget, we allocated around 65 per cent to the social sector and we are satisfied with the results. We will try to focus on addressing new challenges that have emerged recently in the 2013-2014 budget," Dikshit said.

The increase in population density has put Delhi's housing capacity under strain with the survey indicating that more than 50 per cent of all households in Delhi accommodated more than five members in 2011 despite Delhi's per capita income being three times higher than the national average. The 2011 census showed around 3.3 million people live in Delhi. The per capita income in Delhi, at current prices, reached Rs 2,01,083 in 2012-2013, compared to the national average of Rs 68,747.

However, despite the increase in population, records show a marginal improvement in Delhi's sex ratio and literacy rates. According to the survey, the sex ratio improved from 821 in 2001 to 866 in 2011, still lower than the national average of 960 in 2011. Meanwhile, literacy rates increased from 81.67 per cent in 2001 to 86.34 per cent in 2011.

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