Transport to be first priority in Delhi's Annual Plan 2008-09

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) Transport will continue to be the first priority sector during the Annual Plan 2008-09 of Delhi, followed by urban development, water supply and sanitation, education, medical, and public health and energy, it was announced today.

At the third meeting of Delhi Planning Board, which concluded here today, it was also decided that the national capital would be made a knowledge hub for the country by setting up Ambedkar University, National University of Law School, IIIT, Delhi Knowledge Development Foundation, science and technology park besides, new engineering and medical colleges.

Addressing the meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the first and foremost priority of her government for the Annual Plan 2008-09 would be timely execution of all the projects and schemes directly or indirectly related to the Commonwealth Games-2010.

She said Delhi has made landmark achievements in its development process despite the government's limitations in most crucial areas such as land, law and order.

Ms Dikshit said construction of houses for economically weaker sections would be the next priority programme for the Annual Plan 2008-09. The construction of these houses had already started and would pick up the pace during 2008-09, she added.

The Chief Minister said another thrust area for the next Annual Plan was to provide all essential civic amenities such as roads, drains, water supply, sewerage, street lights, parks, sanitation services, health care and educational facilities in unauthorised colonies going to be regularised.

The Delhi Slum Development Board and a special purpose vehicle for development of Shajahanabad heritage area were two major new initiatives of the government under the Urban Development sector.

Ms Dikshit assured the Planning Board members that her government would take all necessary steps for implementation of their suggestions by providing them proper shape of plan projects and schemes.

The Planning Board members made various suggestions and also appreciated new programmes and projects proposed by the Delhi Government for the Annual Plan 2008-09.

Some of the suggestions were promoting Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach in providing tertiary health care services to the citizens of Delhi, involvement of NGOs to take care of school drop-outs, more sports infrastructure facilities in rural areas of the capital, research oriented studies on the problems of mega cities such as Delhi with reference to better land use, infrastructure, mega city development projects, and integrated development of the entire National Capital Region.

UNI AG PY RN1743