New Delhi, Delhi Metro’s Arpan centres have collected more than 41 tonnes of old clothes from nearly 4,000 people since their launch last month, with a portion being reused or upcycled into rugs, bags, pouches and other products, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.
The donation initiative currently operates at 10 stations, and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has proposed opening 10 more such centres in January 2027, according to a statement. The highest collection of 9,861 kg was recorded at the Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital centre, followed by Shalimar Bagh with 9,761 kg, it said.
Our effort is to make it easy and convenient for people to donate old clothes and ensure their maximum utilisation, thereby further strengthening efforts to make Delhi cleaner, more beautiful and greener.” Around 4,266 kg of the collected material was earmarked for reuse or upcycling, while 29,424 kg was sent for recycling, according to the Delhi government. Products made from the donated clothes are being sold at the centres, which have recorded total sales of ₹ 27,036 so far, it said. The government has proposed Arpan centres at Model Town, INA, IP Extension, Paschim Vihar West, Rajendra Place, Janakpuri West, Rajouri Garden, Greater Kailash, Dwarka Sector 10 and Chhatarpur Metro stations, the statement said.
Self-help groups are using some of the material to make rugs, folders, key rings, pouches, bags and torans, which are also being displayed at the centres, it said. Gupta said, “The participation of Delhi residents can help expand this system further.
