In a major push towards sustainable urban transformation, V. K. Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, on Friday inaugurated the first-ever DDA Green Expo 2026 at Baansera, underscoring the capital’s commitment to a greener and climate-resilient future.

The two-day expo, themed “Beyond Growth: Reimagining Urban Futures,” brings together policymakers, urban planners, climate experts and industry stakeholders, while marking a significant milestone with the signing of multiple MoUs aimed at transforming DDA parks into dynamic hubs of ecology, culture, research and community engagement.

Showing its commitment towards promoting greens in the national capital, Hon’ble Lt Governor also unveiled DDA Greens logo and DDA Greens Year Book 2026.

Inaugurating the green expo, Hon’ble Lt Governor said,” The expo reaffirms our commitment to a greener, healthier, and more hopeful future for Delhi.” He further said that this expo is not only about the conferences and the exhibits, but also about people. “It honours thousands of Delhi residents, who nurture small green patches, outside their homes, who teach their children about local birds, who plant saplings and return to care for them. They are the everyday heroes, of our environmental journey,” he added.

He further said no one could have imagined 3 years back that the degraded and polluted site would host a “Green Expo” and become a platform for planning a sustainable future for Delhi. “It is a stellar example of greening and reclaiming degraded land and Baansera is a testimony to resilience and endeavour.” He added that the Expo mulls over and offers practical solutions to Delhi’s environmental challenges.

DDA Vice chairman Shri N Saravana Kumar said that the role of the Delhi Development Authority is often viewed as that of a master planner, developer, and regulator. However, alongside these responsibilities, DDA also has an extremely important and accountable role—that of Delhi’s Environmental Trustee.

While the two-day Expo brought together policymakers, planners, climate experts and industry leaders to deliberate on sustainable urban development, the highlight was the signing of strategic partnerships that will redefine how DDA parks function in the city.

Through these collaborations, DDA Greens are set to evolve into living laboratories for learning, innovation, ecology and culture—moving beyond recreation to become dynamic civic platforms.

A first-of-its-kind partnership with the National School of Drama (NSD) will activate DDA parks as cultural classrooms. Under this collaboration, NSD will conduct curated community theatre workshops and children’s theatre programmes in park spaces, making performing arts accessible in open, public environments.

The MoU with the University of Delhi will enable urban ecological research, student-led fieldwork and academic engagement within park landscapes.

Collaboration with Delhi Technological University (DTU) will introduce technology-driven sustainability solutions and youth innovation into park planning and management.

Through the MoU with National Medicinal Plants Board, DDA will develop herbal garden of national and state importance and medicinal nurseries across selected parks, strengthening biodiversity conservation and reconnecting citizens with India’s botanical heritage.

Partnership with WWF-India will establish Citizens’ Nature Hubs at Asita, promoting environmental awareness, citizen engagement and community stewardship.

In addition, following an approach from the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA), DDA will enter into an MoU to serve as a knowledge partner in sustainable urban planning, heritage-sensitive interventions, and nature-based development practices.

Together, these agreements signal DDA’s commitment in expanding the scope and reach of its green spaces through collaborations with institutions of excellence. DDA parks are poised to become centres for nature trails, research initiatives, youth engagement, cultural programming and environmental learning—integrating ecology, innovation and community life into Delhi’s urban future.

The expo to feature high-impact panel discussions and expert sessions addressing some of the most pressing urban challenges, including extreme heat, flood resilience, nature-based infrastructure, circular food systems and innovative financing for green cities.

Senior policymakers and development leaders to participate in the panel “Designing for Climate-Responsive Cities,” focusing on energy-efficient urban design, climate-adaptive public spaces and resilient infrastructure.

The Expo would also spotlight emerging sustainability priorities such as urban food circularity, balancing development with ecological conservation, and scalable financing models for green infrastructure, including CSR and public-private partnerships.