‘I can buy water, electricity. But I can’t buy air’: Why Delhi-NCR professionals are leaving the city

In recent years, an increasing number of professionals and entrepreneurs in Delhi-NCR are opting to leave the city, citing the deteriorating air quality and poor infrastructure as the primary reasons. Aman Raj, a 30-year-old IT professional, left Gurgaon for Pune in March, finding it unsustainable to compromise on his health. Neeraj Sancheti, a 35-year-old marketing agency founder, moved his family to Silliguri after his daughter's frequent illnesses forced him to restrict her outdoor activities.

Amit Gupta, a 44-year-old founder of EazyPetition, chose to relocate his family to Rajasthan's Ganganagar, finding the city's air and traffic conditions unbearable. Kartikeya Batra, a 35-year-old academic, chose to join a university in Bengaluru due to the city's pollution, which had significantly changed from his childhood memories.

While some have been able to make the move due to the flexibility of remote work, many are leaving behind their professional networks and social connections in Delhi-NCR.