With more than 5 lakh vehicles added to the roads in the last year, Delhi recorded the biggest jump ever in motor vehicle registrations. But as the number of vehicles increased, no significant change in road length was recorded in the Capital.

The figures were made available when Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit released the Delhi Statistical Handbook, 2012, on Tuesday. This is the 37th edition of the handbook, which is released every year by the Directorate of Economics & Statistics of Delhi government.

The publication contains socio-economic data presented under 23 broad chapters. “Data from the book reflects a vibrant economy and fast-improving infrastructure in Delhi, which continues to be an attractive city due to large number of opportunities available here,” Dikshit said after releasing the book.

According to figures from the Transport department, the city registered an additional 5,05,449 vehicles — including 1,69,790 cars and jeeps and 3,01,743 two-wheelers. Only 16 auto-rickshaws were added on city roads in the past year. According to figures in the handbook, taxis increased by 11,822 while buses rose from 61,471 in 2010-2011 to 64,033 in 2011-2012 and assorted goods vehicles increased by 19,516.

Roads (measured in lane km) have an increase of 535 lane km in 2012 as compared to 2011. A total of 435 lane km were built by Delhi Development Authority for Dwarka, Narela and Rohini. While between 200 and 250 lane km have been added in Delhi since 2006, an increase of just 100 km was recorded in 2012.

Data from the handbook also shows a decrease in Delhi’s green cover and a significant increase in deaths due to respiratory diseases. While most of Delhi’s green cover remained unchanged, South and Southwest Delhi recorded a negative change of .65 and .32, respectively.

Health department’s records in the handbook show respiratory cases increased from 7,525 in 2011 to 8,590 in 2012.

Delhi, by numbers

1,67,53,235 city’s population in 2011

10,044 homeless families

90.28 per cent use LPG/PNG as cooking fuel

5.19 per cent use kerosene

868 hospitals in city

42,475 hospital beds

1,281 hectares forest area under DDA

7,784 hectares notified

Ridge area

338 hectares under Forest department

98,000 people visit a movie theatre everyday

431 Hindi newspapers in city

117 English newspapers