New Delhi: The Delhi government has initiated a plan to set up 11 mini-secretariats across its revenue districts to decentralise administrative functions and ease citizen access to public services.
Each mini secretariat will bring together multiple agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the revenue department and social welfare offices.
The aim is to reduce the need for residents to visit multiple government buildings spread across the city. These mini-secretariats are expected to function as district-level hubs for administrative coordination.
According to reports, a senior official from the Delhi government said, “District magistrates have been asked to identify suitable spaces for these integrated complexes. The plan is to bring commonly accessed services into one facility to improve convenience for citizens and reduce inter-departmental delays.”
Rationale Behind the Move
Currently, most government departments operate out of separate buildings, requiring citizens to travel between offices to resolve a single issue. Officials believe that co-locating services will streamline interactions. For example, residents frequently end up at the wrong department, such as going to the MCD for drainage issues that fall under DJB, resulting in wasted time.
“Consolidating services is not just about convenience. It’s about reducing administrative fragmentation and making the system more responsive at the district level,” said a revenue department official.
Progress and Implementation Challenges
The south-west district, Delhi’s largest, has already identified a site in Dwarka for its mini secretariat. This district covers over 420 sq km and includes 77 villages. Plans are underway to accommodate 12 to 13 government departments within the proposed complex.
However, not all districts are progressing at the same pace. Densely populated areas like central and east Delhi face space constraints. District magistrates have flagged concerns about the lack of land and infrastructure needed to house multiple departments in one location.
“Acquiring land in congested zones could delay the project. Retrofitting existing offices is being explored, but it comes with limitations,” said a DM from central Delhi.
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