Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Bharatpur Included in NCR NCR Planning Board Unveils New Regional Plan 2021 The NCR Planning Board has approved the inclusion of Bhiwani and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana and Bharatpur district of Rajasthan in the National Capital Region. The NCR Planning Board which met here today under the chairmanship of the Urban Development Minister Shri Kamal Nath also approved the Rajasthan Government request for identification of Jaipur as Counter Magnet Area. The Board also approved the Sub-Regional plan for UP sub-region. The meeting was attended by the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ms. Girija Vyas, the Chief Minister of Delhi Ms. Shiela Dixit, the Chief Minister of Haryana Sh. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Lt. Governor of Delhi Sh. Tejender Khanna and the Secretary Urban Development Sh. Sudhir Krishna, besides senior officers from the participating States and other Ministries. The Minister stressed the need of an economic and efficient mass transportation system as an essential driver of regional economic development and highlighted the need for Regional Rapid Transit System in NCR. Implementation of these projects would help in reduction of travel time within NCR, reduction of number of vehicles on roads, decongestion of both National Highways and arterial roads and tremendous reduction in pollution levels and ultimately improvement in the quality of life in NCR. He stated that the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has recommended setting up of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) for implementation of RRTS which in Phase-I will connect Delhi-Panipat (111 km), Delhi-Alwar (180 km) and Delhi-Meerut (90 km). The matter will be taken up by the Cabinet shortly. The work on the three corridors would start soon and would be completed by 2016. NCRPB would contribute Rs. 200 crore to begin the work on one of the lines. Shri Kamal Nath stated that the Regional Plan 2021 has been reviewed and the Draft Revised Regional Plan 2021 prepared by the NCRPB in consultation with the participating states and stake-holders has been approved for inviting objections and suggestions from the public under the provisions of the NCR Planning Board Act, 1985. He said, the per capita income of the NCR region has consistently been higher than that of the country; the rate of growth of both GDP and per capita income has also been consistently higher than the rest of the country. NCRPB has provided loan financing for 277 infrastructure projects worth Rs. 18, 994 crore upto March, 2013. Actual loan disbursement has increased from Rs. 6,045 crore in March, 2012 to Rs. 6,464 crore in March, 2013. In addition to raising funds to the tune of Rs. 1,100 crore from domestic capital market, the Board has also drawn an amount of Rs. 137.64 crore from Asian Development Bank and Rs. 108.45 crore from KfW. The Board has maintained its track record of 100 percent recovery of loans. This good financial management has been reflected in the credit rating of ‘AAA with Stable Outlook’ with three credit rating agencies CRISIL, ICRA and FITCH, Shri Kamal Nath said. In the last meeting, the Board decided to provide as Grant 15% of the project cost. The Minister said the State that the interest rates on loans for priority sector projects i.e. water, sewerage, solid waste management, drainage, roads & RoB’s would be reduced from 8.25% to 7.25% and for other sectors from 9.50% to 9%. He said, the Board is a unique example of inter-State and inter-agency coordination spread over four federal states and 108 cities & towns. He added that 62% urbanisation level of NCR is expected to reach about 73% by 2021 as per the revised Regional Plan-2021 and it merits special attention to address its infrastructural and environmental challenges. He said that the NCR Planning Board’s strategy has always been to assist State Governments at all levels to develop the Region in an even more equitable, efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Later talking to media persons, Shri Kamal Nath said, the NCR region must grow simultaneously to reduce pressure on the health, educational and economic infrastructure of Delhi.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 18:32:32 +0000
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