Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Chandigarh May 28 - In a unique initiative to ensure maximum participation of public representatives in the development process of the State, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal convened a meeting of senior officers of Urban Local Bodies Department and Public representatives here today to review the progress of various development works and schemes under Gurugram and Faridabad and Karnal Smart City and 18 cities under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Haryana.

Urban Local Bodies Minister, Mrs Kavita Jain, Minister of State for Cooperation Mr Manish Grover, Industries Minister Mr Vipul Goel, MLAs namely Mr Nagender Bhadana, Mrs Seema Trikha, Mr Moolchand Sharma and Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor and Commissioners of Municipal Corporations were also present in the meeting.

While presiding over the meeting, Mr Manohar Lal said that there is no dearth of funds with the State Government for development works. ‘ I will convene a meeting to review the progress of Chief Minister’s announcement pertaining to various development works in the State on June 3, 2019”, he added.

He said that keeping in view the growing interest among youth and women towards the open gyms in parks as set up by the State Government, such gyms should be set up all cities in the State. Apart from this, the concept of e-Rickshaw should be promoted besides city bus service. For this, the Urban Local Bodies Department would arrange loan facility for the beneficiaries through banks.

The Chief Minister said that apart from the 13 member ward level committee constituted for the implementation of development works in the cities, a committee comprising local councilor and two or three other members should be constituted who would audit the expenditure after the completion of projects. He directed that meeting of these members should be convened once in every two months.

Principal Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Mr Anand Mohan Sharan gave detailed presentation on the development works in 18 cities and apprised the Chief Minister about the progress. He informed that Faridabad and Karnal were selected as smart cities in May 2016 and June 2017 respectively. Thereafter, Faridabad Smart City Limited (FSCL) and Karnal Smart City Limited (KSCL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) was established.

He informed that as many as 45 projects are being implemented for Faridabad city at a cost of Rs 2560.30 crore. Out of these, two projects costing Rs. 2.6 crore has been completed and work on 15 projects are in progress at a cost of Rs. 595.87 crore. Apart from this, tender have been uploaded for two projects worth Rs. 30.64 crore. Similarly, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of two Projects costing Rs. 504.61 crore have been approved and DPRs of 10 projects costing Rs 241.23 crore is at the final stage of completion. In addition, DPRs of two projects worth Rs 32.26 crore is being prepared and situation analysis and feasibility study of 12 projects costing Rs 1153.09 crore is under progress.

Mr Sharan informed that under the Smart City Mission, 57 projects are being implemented for Karnal city at a cost of Rs 1171.83 crore. These included about 40 projects with a cost of Rs 1022.08 crores (87.22) per cent as Area Based Development projects for infrastructure development and 17 projects with a cost of Rs 149.75 crores (12.78) per cent as PAN City Solutions for ICT components installation along with infrastructure works.

He informed that four 11.15 crore projects of light and sound show at Karan Park, Musical Fountain at Karan Tal, City Bus Service and City Surveillance has been completed whereas, seven projects are under implementation at a cost of Rs 88.87 crore. He said that while tendering process is under progress for 13 projects at a cost of Rs 378.16 crore, design of three projects costing Rs 177.36 crore is being prepared. Similarly, work on 30 projects costing Rs 516.29 crore has been initiated, he added.

Among those present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Rajesh Khullar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Chief Executive Officer, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, Gurugram Mr V. Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Mr T.V.S.N Prasad, Director General Urban Local Bodies Mr Sameer Pal Srow and other senior officers of the Urban Local Bodies Department.

Chandigarh, May 28 – Haryana Transport Minister, Mr. Krishan Lal Panwar said that the matter regarding 350 drivers engaged on contract basis in 2016, would be considered sympathetically. He said that the Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has been requested in this regard and till that time, their services will continue.

Mr. Panwar was interacting with media persons after the 95th meeting of State Transport Board, here today.

He said that these drivers were engaged for one year with a condition that their services will not be required with recruitment of regular drivers. He said that extension was given to these drivers in the years 2017 and 2018, which continued till 2019. Now, the department has adequate staff according to fleet, still as of now, they will continue with their services.

The Minister said that the Department would soon purchase 367 new buses to adjust these contractual drivers, which would include 15 Volvo buses. The outline to depute all such drivers on these buses would be prepared in a review meeting.

He said that during the State Transport Board meeting today, works related to CM announcements were also reviewed. There were about 71 announcements pertaining to Transport Department of which 33 have been disposed of, 17 are under progress and 20 are pending. He said that during last about four-and-a-half years, the Department has witnessed unprecedented development. He said that these pending CM announcements are mostly pertaining to allotment of land for constructing bus stands.

Replying to a question, Mr. Panwar said that the CM announcements would be got completed in next 100 days besides starting new works and period would be fixed for their completion. He expressed hope that all such announcements would be got completed before the ensuing Vidhan Sabha Elections.

Replying to another question, the Minister said that the Housing Board has so far constructed about 90,000 houses, of which 85 per cent houses are for EWS category. During the tenure of present State Government, 12,500 houses have been allotted whereas 11,000 houses are under construction.

Earlier, during the meeting of State Transport Board, Mr. Panwar reviewed matters related to Public Works (Building and Roads), Chief Architect, Haryana Shaheri Vikas Pradhikaran, CM announcements, bus stands, workshops and construction of bus-q-shelters. In the meeting, approval or post facto approval was given to civil works of different bus stands and workshops, approval and post facto approval regarding pre-mature condemnation of Haryana Roadways buses was also reviewed. Apart from this, appointment to one post each of SDE (Civil) and JE in Transport Department were also reviewed.

Others present in the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary, Transport, Mr. Dhanpat Singh, Director, State Transport, Mr. R.C. Bidhan, Additional Transport Commissioner, Mr. Virender Singh Dahiya and officers of concerned departments.