Delhi Metro Clothing Drive
Delhi Metro Arpan Centers Collect 41 Tonnes of Clothing for Recycling
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Key Points
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The 10 existing Arpan centres were rolled out in phases: five opened on August 3, while the others became operational on August 12 and 17.
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Products made from donated clothing had generated total sales of ₹27,036 at the Arpan centres, according to the Delhi government.
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The proposed expansion includes 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.
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Among the less-publicised locations, Mayur Vihar-I collected 5,189.40 kilograms, while Hauz Khas, Dwarka-Kakrola, Malviya Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Mohan Estate collected 1,680.70, 689.40, 467.40, 395.70 and 215.50 kilograms respectively.
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Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged greater public participation, saying it could help expand the system and make donating old clothes easier while ensuring their maximum utilisation.
Delhi Metro's Arpan clothing collection centres have gathered 41,181.59 kilograms of unwanted garments from nearly 4,000 people in just one month, Urban Acres reported. The 10 centres, spread across key metro stations, are sorting donations for reuse, upcycling, or recycling — with self-help groups already turning some pieces into rugs, bags, and decorative items that have generated ₹27,036 in sales.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative offers residents an easy way to dispose of old clothes while cutting waste. The Delhi Metro plans to open 10 more Arpan centres by January 2027, expanding the program to stations like Dwarka Sector 10, Janakpuri West, and Chhatarpur.
How the Arpan Centres Sort and Transform Donations
Of the 41 tonnes collected, about 4,266 kilograms are being reused or upcycled into new products. The remaining 29,424 kilograms go to recycling facilities. Daily Pioneer noted that self-help groups are crafting donated fabrics into rugs, pouches, folders, and key rings — items displayed and sold at the centres themselves. This dual approach keeps usable clothing out of landfills while creating income for participating groups.
Rapid Launch Across 10 Metro Stations in Three Weeks
The Arpan initiative rolled out in phases starting August 3, when five centres opened at key locations. The remaining five became operational on August 12 and 17. Inshorts reported that the fast rollout attracted nearly 4,000 donors in its first month alone. The quick implementation shows how metro infrastructure can be repurposed for sustainability goals.
Top Collection Sites Show Uneven Participation Across Delhi
Mayur Vihar-I leads donations with 5,189.40 kilograms collected so far. Hauz Khas came second with 1,680.70 kilograms. Smaller centres like Chhatarpur, Mohan Estate, and Lajpat Nagar collected 215.50 to 467.40 kilograms each. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged greater participation, saying higher donation rates could fuel expansion and make clothes disposal easier across the city.
Proposed Expansion Targets 10 More Metro Stations by 2027
The Delhi Metro plans to add centres at Model Town, INA, IP Extension, Paschim Vihar West, Rajendra Place, Janakpuri West, Rajouri Garden, Greater Kailash, Dwarka Sector 10, and Chhatarpur by January 2027. The expansion reflects growing demand and the programme's early success in collecting unwanted garments at scale.
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