Efforts on to extend rapid rail system to Karnal: Khattar

Karnal, July 6

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar said efforts would be made to bring Rapid Rail Transport System (RRTS), commonly known as rapid train, to Karnal.

“The issue has been raised for Panipat and we will make efforts to extend it to Karnal. If the assessment is complete, the project will proceed, otherwise it will be reassessed after six months or a year,” Khattar said while talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the Jan Samvad programme at the PWD Rest House on Saturday.

Khattar emphasised that the rapid rail project was crucial due to the growing population. The state government, during the tenure of former CM Khattar, had given its nod to expand the proposed Delhi-Panipat corridor for the RRTS to Karnal, for which a detailed project report (DPR) was also sent to the Centre in 2021. At that time, a drone survey and soil testing was also conducted along the National Highway between Delhi and Karnal.

On the issue of Karnal being a part of the National Capital Region (NCR), Khattar confirmed, “Karnal is still part of the NCR. There was a discussion about excluding some areas, but Karnal remains within the region,” he said. On being asked about the issue of the upgrade of the Karnal Aviation Club to domestic airport, he said the Civil Aviation Ministry can provide further details on this development.

Listens to people’s plaints at Jan Samvad programme

Earlier, the Union Minister listened to the grievances of nearly 200 residents during his ‘Jan Samvad’ programme. It was Khattar’s first ‘Jan Samvad’ programme in Karnal city after assuming the charge as the Union Cabinet minister.

Throughout the programme, the former CM and Union minister directed the authorities to resolve the issues of the residents.

People arrived at the venue with their grievances related to nearly 20 departments. “Nearly 200 people reached here with their complaints. Many of these do not fall directly under the purview of the Union government. Officials have been directed to resolve the issues of people swiftly,” said Khattar, while interacting with the media.

Khattar, who is also the MP from Karnal Lok Sabha constituency, directed officials to address the problems of the people on a priority and warned against any lapse. He also announced that similar public dialogue programmes would be held in all the nine Assembly segments of Karnal constituency to address the problems of people.

A total of 81 people registered their complaints, which included 19 related to SP Karnal, one to IGP office Karnal Range, five to Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC), nine to the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) office, three to HKRN, three to UHBVN, six to PWD, one each to ADC office, Education Department, DCWO, SDM Karnal, DTP, three each to DC office and irrigation, six of HSVP and other departments.

Govt focus on waste mgmt in urban areas

Khattar said the Centre would set up a project to convert waste into coal in Faridabad and Gurugram. The project, to be implemented by the NTPC, aims to produce coal from waste, which will be used in thermal power plants. The minister said an MoU will be signed soon with the state government to finalise the project.