
A Reddit user has claimed that Delhi NCR is no longer a liveable place. In a post titled, "Delhi NCR is cooked no point of defending it now," the user has listed six reasons, including air pollution, limited job opportunities, and traffic congestion, to support their claims. With thousands of views and nearly 800 upvotes, the post gained significant attention after Delhi battled toxic fumes on Sunday (Dec 14), with the air quality slipping into the 'severe' category with a reading of 459, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. Residents struggled to breathe as a thick layer of smog blanketed the city overnight.
"I've lived in Bangalore and Hyderabad for work. I was born and brought up in Noida, and last week I spent a full week in Pune. After seeing all this, I honestly feel Delhi NCR is done," the user said in the r/delhi subreddit. "Soon, the number of deaths due to air pollution will be far higher than deaths from such incidents-but no politician is willing to take responsibility," the user wrote.
Also Read | Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Turns Green Ahead Of Closest Approach To Earth
See the post here:
Delhi NCR is cooked no point of defending it now
byu/sarcasaman39 indelhi
1. Air Pollution: Delhi's air quality is "severe plus," with an AQI of 491, making it hazardous for residents. In contrast, Bengaluru's AQI is 118, categorised as "moderate". "The real problem isn't just pollution-it's how normalised it has become," the user wrote.
2. Traffic: The user also discussed the issues with Delhi's traffic. "Traffic is bad everywhere. If I'm being honest, Delhi NCR might slightly win here, but peak-hour traffic feels the same in all metros," the user wrote.
3. Safety Concerns: The user also highlighted Delhi's crime rates, with concerns about street safety. "In Pune, I saw people roaming freely, sitting outside their homes, enjoying winters at 12:30 AM. In NCR, you think twice before stepping out after 10-11 PM. The city just goes silent, and empty streets don't feel safe," the user stated.
Also Read | Video: Woman Leaves Luxury Bag Unattended In Dubai. This Happens Next
4. Real Estate: Delhi's real estate is expensive, with high rents and property prices. But the user sarcastically said that "this is the only area where NCR 'beats' the South". "In places like Gurgaon, you won't get anything decent under Rs 1-1.5 crore. In Pune (Kharadi), you can get a decent 2BHK in the same budget." Bengaluru offers more affordable options, making it attractive for professionals, the user noted.
5. Job Opportunities: Delhi's job market is limited, with many professionals seeking opportunities in Bengaluru's thriving tech industry. "As an IT professional, there's no comparison. Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune are way ahead of North India in tech opportunities, and pay is actually better there," the user said.
6. Food: The user said that apart from variety, NCR doesn't stand out anymore and if one compares food with Hyderabad or Bangalore, South India "easily wins," especially for non-vegetarians.
"Actually, pollution is terrible across most of India, especially in the North. Delhi, however, gets hit harder in winter because of its geography, ongoing construction, and emissions from factories and vehicles. To be honest, the entire country is in bad shape, we have just normalized it. Living with an AQI around 150- 200 is considered normal and doesn't even get much serious attention," one user said in the comment section.
"The only reason NCR wins is because we dont have anything in the North for North Indians. People who don't want to move South are the only people who would prefer NCR," another user wrote.
"What stopping people to settle in other cities along with there business," one user asked.
A new study published in Science has challenged this view, suggesting the genetic contribution might be considerably higher.
Several parts of the national capital woke up to dense fog on Monday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the moderate to poor categories according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
India's fight against toxic air just took a hit. The 2026-27 Budget allocated only Rs 1,091 crore to pollution control - down from Rs 1,300 crore last year.
Several parts of Delhi and the wider National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed light rain during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a drop in the maximum temperature for today.
The air quality in Delhi has shown slight deterioration this January compared to last year, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) till January 30 standing at 307, compared to 306 during the same period in 2025, according to an analysis
................................ Advertisement ................................
Blog | Well Done, Delhi. You've Turned Lung Sacrifice Into A Badge Of HonourSaikat Kumar Bose
Monday November 10, 2025Till some years back, Delhiites would ask angry questions to those in power about the capitals annual tryst with toxic air. This has changed. Those in the driving seat dont see the need to answer now.
Opinion | Why Indians Have Just Given Up On Air Pollution CrisisTanushree Ganguly
Friday December 20, 2024While some may argue that people in Delhi are now more aware of air pollution than they were a decade back, my rebuttal would be that awareness does not mean that people are concerned.
Opinion | You Must Outrage Over Filthy Air More Than Once A YearJyoti Pande Lavakare
Tuesday December 10, 2024Delhi welcomed us with monsoon rains and mangos. We were home. Fast forward a couple of years, in the winter of 2012, I found myself in denial about something other parents, mostly expats, were calling toxic air.
Opinion | Delhi's Air Pollution Situation Is Like A Bad MarriageNishtha Gautam
Friday November 22, 2024On a good day, such as today, the AQI reading in Delhi is 407. We are jubilant at the sickly sunshine trickling through the slightly dissipated smog. At least its not 1600.
दिवाली... पराली... सियासी जुगाली!Ashwini kumar
Monday November 18, 2024दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण का समाधान तो आज तक मिला नहीं. हर साल चिंतित होकर हम-आप सांसों की तकलीफ के साथ-साथ दिल और ब्लड प्रेशर के मरीज भी क्यों बनें?

