M A I N   N E W S

4 more Haryana dists come under NCR
Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Jind, Karnal & Rajasthan’s Bharatpur included
Syed Ali Ahmed & Pradeep Sharma/TNS

Key decisions Bhiwani, Mahendragarh districts to be part of the NCR; in-principal approval to Jind, Karnal Jaipur to be identified as Counter Magnet Area; sub-regional plan for UP Sub-Region approved Regional Rapid Transit System to cover three corridors - Delhi-Panipat, Delhi-Alwar, Delhi-Meerut

New Delhi/Chandigarh, July 1
The National Capital Region (NCR) will now cover 13 districts of Haryana with the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) today approving the inclusion of Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Jind and Karnal districts, besides Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.

The board further decided to identify Jaipur as Counter Magnet Area and approved the sub-regional plan for UP Sub-Region.

The board gave its in-principal approval to include Jind and Karnal in the NCR.

The NCRPB took the decisions on the basis of proposals submitted by the Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments, said Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, who chaired a board meeting today.

The meeting was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Lt-Governor of Delhi Tejinder Khanna, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas. Nath stressed the need for a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the NCR and called it a driver for regional economic growth. This would help reduce travel time within the NCR, cut down the number of vehicles on roads, decongest both national highways and arterial roads and reduce pollution levels, besides improving the quality of life in the NCR, he said.

The minister said the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) had recommended the setting up of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) for the implementation of the RRTS.

The system would connect Delhi-Panipat (111 km), Delhi-Alwar (180 km) and Delhi-Meerut (90 km) in the first phase. The matter will be taken up by the Cabinet shortly.

The work on the three corridors will start soon and will be completed by 2016. The NCRPB will contribute Rs 200 crore towards building one of the lines.

Hooda sought NCRPB’s support in developing a cargo airport near Meham. The government has identified 4,200 acres for the purpose. The proposal for the cargo airport has been submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Haryana Chief Minister also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the meeting. Hooda thanked the Union Government for the inclusion of four districts and said it would assist faster development of these districts.

Hooda stressed the need for improving the basic infrastructure and inclusion of Gurgaon in JNNRUM.

Haryana was in the process of finalising its Sub-Regional Plan, which will be sent to the NCRPB within a month, officials added.

Additional road links were needed for smooth traffic movement between Delhi and Haryana NCR towns. He requested financial assistance in the form of grants-in-aid for major projects such as metro connectivity and affordable housing.