Latest update:15 December 2025, 2:00 PM IST

According to the post, Delhi NCR, once considered a hub of culture, jobs and food, no longer stands out.

The author spent time in Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. (Image source: Reddit)

A Noida resident declared that Delhi and the National Capital Region are “finished”, comparing its food, jobs, safety and pollution unfavorably with other Indian cities. The discussion came in a Reddit post titled, “Delhi NCR is cooked, no need to defend it now.” The author shared his impressions after spending time in Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Redditor’s 6 reasons why Delhi is worse

According to the post, Delhi NCR, once considered a hub of culture, jobs and food, no longer stands out. When it comes to food, the author claims that South India “wins easily,” especially for non-vegetarians. “Food in NCR is overpriced,” they wrote. “In the south, you can eat well for 100 to 150 rupees, but here, for 200 rupees, you will get unhealthy moradabadi-style biryani at best.”

“Apart from diversity, NCR doesn’t really stand out anymore. If you compare the food to Hyderabad or Bengaluru, especially for non-vegetarians, South India wins easily,” the post read.

Jobs, traffic, safety

The post also criticized job opportunities in the NCR region, especially for IT professionals. “Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune are way ahead of north India in technology opportunities, and wages are actually better there,” they said.

While traffic remains a major issue at all metro stations, safety and nightlife were areas where differences stood out clearly. “In Pune, I saw people roaming freely, sitting outside their homes, enjoying the winter at 12:30 AM. In NCR, you have to think twice before going out after 10-11 PM. The city is silent, empty streets don’t feel safe,” a Reddit user wrote.

“I’m not talking about bars or parties. I’m talking about normal life.”

Regarding properties, the post compared, “In Gurugram, you won’t get anything decent under Rs 1-1.5 crore. In Pune, you can get a good 2 BHK for the same budget. 3 BHK rent is similar everywhere.” “In Bengaluru (HSR layout), you will find similar options for around Rs 90 lakh,” they wrote.

Air quality problems in delhi

The post was particularly scathing about air quality. “Today, the Al Qaeda index in Noida/Delhi is about 700+. Politicians are sitting in air-purifying booths saying that pollution is ‘comparatively less this year.’” The real problem is becoming normalized, the author wrote, warning that pollution-related deaths may soon overtake other public safety concerns.

The author ended on a sharp note, asking Delhi’s defenders to try other cities before making comparisons. “Comparing North India with South India is like comparing Babar Azam with Sachin Tendulkar,” they concluded.

This post quickly spread on the Internet.

One user commented: “In fact, pollution is terrible in most parts of India, especially in the north. However, Delhi takes a harder hit in winter due to its geography, constant construction, and emissions from factories and vehicles. To be honest, the whole country is in bad shape, we have just normalized it. Living with a QI of around 150-200 is considered normal and does not even get much serious attention.”

Another stated, “Al-Qaeda in Iraq numbers about 908 today.”

One person shared their experience comparing Delhi with Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai, saying they preferred Delhi because of its “big open spaces, wider roads and better traffic outside peak hours”.

They noted that safety depends on the area, with neighborhoods with a larger Punjabi population being safer for women, and that market areas remain lively until 1 a.m. They routinely leave their homes after 9pm to avoid traffic and generally return by 11 to 2am, even later during holidays, without feeling unsafe. The resident praised the clubs and parties in Delhi and Mumbai, saying they were superior to Pune and Bengaluru, and stated that the latter seemed incongruous due to language barriers.

“Absolutely true,” one user wrote.

Delhi AQI today

Delhi’s air quality remains in the hazardous category, with AQI readings on Monday reaching around 500 in several areas, well above safe levels for health. Dense smog has sharply reduced visibility and disrupted land and air travel across the capital region. The NCR has been surrounded by dense polluted air.

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