Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has announced that the city will soon get its first hot air balloon ride, which will begin on Saturday, November 29. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has introduced this activity to increase recreational options for people in the national capital.

However, soon after the announcement, many people on social media expressed anger and disappointment. They criticised the Delhi LG and the authorities for launching a fun activity at a time when the city is struggling with severe air pollution.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), LG Saxena wrote that hot air balloon rides would start at Baansera and later be available at Asita, Yamuna Sports Complex, and the CWG Village Sports Complex. He said that this new adventure activity is part of the effort to make Delhi a more vibrant city with better recreational facilities and improved infrastructure.

But the reaction from the public was largely negative. Many people commented under his post, saying that instead of working on reducing pollution, the government was focusing on balloon rides. Some users were sarcastic, while others were openly frustrated.

One user wrote, “People are suffering from polluted air, and this guy is enjoying the hot air balloon... irony.” Another said, “Great priorities. Our country is surely doomed.” Someone else questioned the decision by saying, “Wasn’t the pollution on the ground enough? Now you're sending it up into the sky?”

Others criticized the authorities for being insensitive. One person wrote, “How can someone be this tone deaf!” Another commented, “There are 100 problems, but you choose to ignore everything and send people in a balloon to get fresh air. Several users also made jokes about the situation. Someone said, “Hope you have oxygen cylinders on the balloon."

Another joked, “Please add an air purifier in this, maybe a Dyson one.” One user humorously asked, “Why float in a sky we can’t even see?” referring to the heavy smog covering the city. Overall, while the hot air balloon activity is meant to offer a new experience to citizens, many people feel it is not the right time for such projects, especially when Delhi is facing one of its worst pollution phases of the year.