Centre announces new funding pattern for NCR

To promote rapid development in the NCR, the Centre on Thursday formulated a new funding pattern for the states under which they would be provided 15 per cent of the project cost as grant against loan and viability gap funding for works carried out under Public Private Partnership mode.

The Centre and four states -- Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan -- were unanimous in implementing the Rapid Rail Transport System that would connect satellite cities with the national capital through high-speed rail links.

At the 32nd meeting of the National Capital Region Planning Board, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath said the NCR was one of the "unique" regions in the world that covers 108 cities and towns with 62 per cent of urban areas.

Fifteen per cent grant
"We have decided on the new funding pattern. The NCR Planning Board was only issuing loans to states till now. Now we will give a 15 per cent grant to state governments for projects," he said.

"To promote Public-Private-Partnership mode, will also give 15 per cent viability gap so that all government funds can be leveraged," Nath said.

The grant will be issued for sewage and drainage projects. The Minister also said there was no shortage of funds for development in NCR.

On the Rapid Rail Transport System, Nath said efforts would be taken improve connectivity between the satellite towns and the Capital.

"We are working on three routes -- Panipat-Sonepat-Delhi, Meerut-Ghaziabad-Gurgaon-Delhi and Palwal-Rewari-Delhi. We will meet soon to discuss this issue," he said.

25 NCR towns
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday announced development plans for 25 towns in NCR and steps taken to improve road and metro rail connectivity with Delhi.

He urged the Centre to provide special grants for major projects of infrastructure development in National Capital Region (NCR) at the meeting.

Hooda said Haryana has prepared development plans for 25 out of 35 towns of Haryana NCR sub region.

Road connectivity
He added that the state government has taken measures to develop Metro Rail and road connectivity between Delhi and adjacent towns of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bahadurgarh and Sonepat-Kundli.

The chief minister said Haryana government will be spending over Rs 1,557 crore for extension of Delhi Metro from Badarpur to YMCA Chowk, Faridabad and this project is likely to commence by August, 2014.

A detailed project report is being prepared for extending it to Ballabhgarh. He suggested the development of Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-Alwar corridors as national projects.

The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Urban Development Saugat Rai, Lt Governor of Delhi Tejender Khanna and Urban Development Ministers of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh A K Walia and Abhishek Mishra, besides members of NCR Planning Board and officers of DDA, NDMC and states.