The administrative revamp follows the government’s decision last Thursday to split the ministry into two specialised verticals: Department of Capital Development (Rajdhani Vikas Vibhag) and the Department of Urban Development (Shehari Vikas Vibhag). The division is designed to enable dedicated focus on distinct aspects of urban planning while streamlining service delivery, execution, and policy interventions.
The administrative reshuffle moved at breakneck speed. Within 24 hours of the Gazette notification, secretary Srinivas Katikithala (a 1989-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre) handed over charge of the newly-created department of capital development to D Thara, a 1995-batch IAS officer from the same cadre. Simultaneously, the Centre posted Satendra Singh (a 1995-batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer) as secretary to lead the Department of Urban Development. The overhaul extends deep into the operational leadership of Centre’s core urban schemes.
Crucial personnel shifts include Kuldeep Narayan, who was directing the flagship housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), moving to Niti Aayog. Roopa Mishra, who spearheaded the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), has also been reassigned. New directors are slated to assume charge within the next fortnight to ensure seamless administrative continuity. At the heart of this structural realignment is a targeted policy focus on the national capital. The Centre has set its sights on resolving Delhi’s long-standing, complex urban challenges through a bifurcated strategy. With a BJP government in power in Delhi, the ministry bifurcation will also help in better implementation of infrastructure projects, including the ambitious Central Vista project.