Jaipal Reddy calls for strengthening partnership among NCR states

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) Union Urban Development Minister and National Capital Region Planning Board Chairman S Jaipal Reddy today requested NCR states to strengthen their mutual partnership to make the region a habitat marked by graceful form, excellent physical and social infrastructure and a high quality of life for all its residents.

Inaugurating the 29th meeting of the NCR Planning Board, Mr Reddy said this was only possible, if the constituents of the Board rise to the challenges of world class development, formulate major development projects and implement them effectively without time and cost overruns.

Complimenting the board on its work, the minister said ''truly the board has come of age by becoming a useful instrument of interstate cooperation and regional planning.'' Moreover, the board and its committees have become a forum for understanding regional problems and evolving common approaches to the development of the NCR, he added.

Mr Reddy released bilingual version of the Regional Plan 2021 at the occasion.

Highlighting the way forward, he said first and foremost, the participating states including Delhi must prepare sub-regional plans within the span of one year amplifying the policies and principles laid down in the Regional Plan 2021.

Secondly, the board in collaboration with participating states must prepare functional plans on key areas like water resources management, power generation, transmission and distribution, drainage and as effluent management, and transport system, he added.

Mr Reddy informed that the union finance ministry was examining a proposal to increase funding for the projects approved by the board.

The issues being discussed at the meeting, included Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), new town on national highway Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror in Rajasthan sub-region, new townships in Jhajjar, Sampla and Samalkha and an Education City at Kundli.

The board meeting would also examine the study on Counter Magnet Areas to Delhi and National Capital Region, study on water supply and its management in the region and peripheral expressways.

The meeting would also review the alignments of Integrated Rail-cum-Bus Transit System (IRBT) and Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) for resolving issues like extensions of metro line to NCR towns, continuation or realignment of phase I corridors of the IRBT, and whether Regional Rapid Transit System could be taken up in an integrated manner.

Minister of State for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja, Delhi Lt Governor B L Joshi, Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Haryana Chief Minister B S Hooda, besides ministers from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and senior officials of the NCRPB attended the meeting.

UNI IP LS SSC1311