Academic institutions in Lal Dora allowed to continue for another yr

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) The Delhi Cabinet today permitted the existing higher educational institutions situated in extended Lal Dora agricultural land, school buildings and other non-conforming areas to continue for the academic year 2008-09.

In a meeting presided over by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the Cabinet also gave its nod to three PWD projects amounting to Rs 1128 crore with an aim to facilitate smooth flow of traffic.

Briefing the media after the Cabinet Meeting, Ms Dikshit said the perspective plan for Technical Education points to a considerable shortage of technical education seats in Delhi in comparison to that in other metros as well as the national average.

''The Government is committed to facilitate continuation of those existing Higher Educational Institutions, which are imparting approved courses from Lal Dora, extended Lal Dora, agricultural land, school buildings and other non-conforming areas including institutes running from rented premises. Hence, it has been decided to permit these institutions to run the courses that have been previously allowed and also allow increase in intake in existing courses as well as adding new courses subject to fulfilment of conditions such as enough building space, no addition in existing construction and production of documentary proof of legal possession of the premises,''the Chief Minister said.

It has also decided to grant NOCs to allow increase in these institutions for the year 2008-09 subject to certain conditions.

The decision of the Cabinet would benefit nine institutes affiliated to GGSIP University, which are functioning from school premises, 13 institutes functioning from Lal Dora, extended Lal Dora, agricultural land including those in rented premises and institutes functioning from rented buildings in other non-conforming areas and seven diploma level institutions under the TTE Department functioning from Lal Dora/extended Lal Dora/Agriculture land premises.

Ms Dikshit said in view of the state Government's commitment to provide top priority to facilitate smooth flow of traffic on all PWD roads, the Cabinet has given its nod to three projects of the PWD, which would go a long way in decongestion of roads.

Among the projects cleared is a Ring Road By-Pass from Salimgarh Fort to Velodrome Road, aimed at providing an alternative route on Ring Road and ease congestion of traffic between Hanuman Mandir and I P Depot. This would also facilitate smooth traffic of VVIPs and foreign dignitaries upto Raj Ghat where they visit to pay homage to Father of the Nation during their visit to Capital-city.

The new route would also provide relief to security personnel and common commuters and vehicular traffic who generally face heavy traffic jam because of traffic restrictions on visits of VVIPs and foreign dignitaries.

The project would cost Rs 654.39 crore and would be constructed within 30 months from the date of award of work. The project has already been cleared by the High Powered Samadhi Committee, Ministry of Urban Development, DUAC, Yamuna Samiti, Yamuna-Removal of Encroachment Monitoring Committee, DDA Technical Committee and Traffic Police and Security Police.

Ms Dikshit said that to fulfil the need of providing suitable infrastructure to facilitate smooth flow of traffic on roads before commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010, the Cabinet has given its nod to a proposal of the PWD for corridor improvement of UP Link Road from NH-24 crossing NOIDA Mor to Chilla Regulator at an estimated cost of Rs334 crores.

The project would be executed within 27 months after award of work. This will provide hindrance free smooth flow of traffic to the residents of East Delhi and NOIDA. It would also go a long way in saving huge quantity of fuel and travel time apart from curbing air pollution.

Another project approved is a Grade Separator at T point-Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar and NH1 junction on NH-1 to be constructed with an estimated cost Rs 138 crore within 30 month after award of work.

Ms Dikshit said it would prove to be a great facilitator in ensuring signal-free traffic on GT Karnal Road. This would also provide much needed relief to inter-state commuters who are otherwise forced to face unwarranted waiting on the road.

It would also prove to be a supplementary facilitator after commissioning of Mukarba Chowk Grade Separator on that very road.

UNI AR RC AS1555