Delhi may be too vast and varied to inspire a deep sense of connection, but its residents often feel strongly about their own mohallas. In this new series, we explore what shapes pride, perceptions and everyday life in its colonies.An underdog colony that built its own identityIn 1979, Budhela village near Tilak Nagar was marked for change, though few could have imagined the transformation ahead. Farmland slowly gave way to DDA and cooperative housing flats in the early 1980s.Around that time, Ajay Awasthi, then a Class XII student, became one of the earliest residents of what would later be known as Vikaspuri. From his balcony, he watched roads, buildings and civic services appear one by one. Water supply was erratic, power cuts routine, and grocery trips meant travelling to Tilak Nagar. Evenings were largely silent, punctuated only by distant traffic.Five decades later, the neighbourhood tells a very different story. Shops, clinics, coaching centres and markets hum with activity. Utilities have stabilised. Roads are busier. In safety, infrastructure, connectivity and identity, residents say the change has been steady and visible.Safety stands out as one of the biggest improvements. Ravi Mohan Kumar, 60, recalls that when he moved in 1984, there was only one properly lit arterial road. “Snatchings were common even a few years ago. Now, it’s much better,” he says.Residents are near unanimous about the colony’s social fabric. Many describe Vikaspuri as close-knit, where neighbours check on one another, share food during festivals and step in during emergencies. Though often labelled Punjabi-dominated, locals say everyday life reflects far greater diversity. Cooperative societies house families from Himachal, Uttarakhand and elsewhere, yet community events cut across backgrounds.Green spaces have emerged as another quiet strength. Plantation drives and the conversion of barren patches into parks — part of the original planning — have made greenery a defining positive. Most green cover exists within residential pockets rather than along main roads. Cleanliness, residents note, has improved, though consistency varies.On connectivity, perceptions remain largely positive. Metro access, NCR road links and easy availability of e-rickshaws have made daily commuting more manageable compared to many Outer Delhi colonies. Basic civic infrastructure — water, electricity, sewerage and schools — has also stabilised over time.Yet challenges persist. Healthcare remains a key gap. “Even today, there is no major hospital here,” says Manish Dutt, a resident. Governance overlap is another concern. With three MLAs representing areas within a 5km radius, many feel coordination on local issues becomes complicated. Traffic congestion, shrinking streets due to encroachment and delayed civic upgrades also feature prominently in residents’ complaints.Some describe Vikaspuri as an “underdog”, arguing it has received stepmotherly treatment compared to neighbouring Janakpuri. As an example, residents point out that while three Metro stations carry the Janakpuri name, none highlight Vikaspuri — a missed opportunity, they say, for visibility and identity.Despite niggling concerns, most residents agree that quality of life has steadily improved. Shakti Sharma, who moved here in 1984, reflects: “You could buy bigger plots in south Delhi, but here you had planning plus affordability.”Vikaspuri’s story, residents say, is not just about buildings and infrastructure, but about people growing alongside the place — a shared journey that has shaped the colony’s distinct identity.
