It’s official. Delhi loves to talk. The revelation comes courtesy the Delhi Statistical Handbook 2012 complied by the directorate of economics and statistics and released by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday. According to it, the Capital has a population of 1.71 crore, and mobile connections more than twice that number — 4.25 crore, which works out to 2.48 connections per person.

“It is true that most Delhiites carry more than one mobile phone. Delhi’s mobile phone density is not just higher than that of Mumbai or Chennai, it is almost at par with the biggest cities of the world,” said Mahesh Uppal, a Delhi-based telecom consultant.

Call it a fad if you like, but Delhiites claim it is a necessity.

Deepak Sharma, sales manager with a soft drink company, explains the rationale behind his two connections. “I have to talk to my clients almost all the time and I end up missing important calls from my family. So I have a number for clients and another for family.”

And while for some the second connection has replaced the customary landline, others ‘lend’ the second connection to drivers, domestic helps and even minor children.

The number of landline connections have also clocked an increase, however meager — only 2% —compared to its new age cousin.