Haryana plan to have 500 city buses under City Bus Service Project

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 12

With a view to beefing up city bus service, the Haryana Government plans to have a fleet of 500 city buses under the City Bus Service Project in Gurugram. Order for 100 buses has been issued and 25 buses would start plying in the city by August 15 this year.

            This was disclosed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal, to review the progress of various development projects, here today. The buses would be operated by Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited  (GMCBL).

            Process has also been initiated for the introduction of 100 CNG buses in Gurugram in the next phase. In addition, the GMCBL has also approved 100 electric buses for Gurugram, tender for which would be floated by June-end.

          As many as 453 bus queue shelters are to be constructed in Gurugram to pick and drop passengers on city buses. Out of these, 125 bus queue shelters are being constructed by the Municipal Corporation (MCG), Gurugram, and 328 bus queue shelters by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA). Construction of about 80 bus queue shelters by MCG and 50 by GMDA has been completed and progress is apace on others.

            A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been finalized for the City Bus Service in Faridabad.  In the first phase, 90 buses would be pressed into service, including 40 semi-low floor CNG fuelled air-conditioned buses, and 50 semi-low floor CNG fuelled non-air conditioned buses.

     Similarly, 100 buses each would be started in the second and third phase, respectively. The City Bus Service has already been initiated in Karnal under which six buses, including three AC and three non-AC, are operational.  

            The Chief Minister directed the officers to complete all ongoing works in a time-bound manner. “I would hold regular meetings to see for myself the progress of development works being carried out in the state”, he added.

            While reviewing the Science City Project, Mr Mnaohar Lal issued directions that site for the project be finalised within one month  so that it could be sent to the Centre for approval.

           He said the state government had constituted Pond Management Authority for rejuvenation of 14,000 ponds in the state. Irrigation and Water Resources Department is the nodal department for this work. He directed the department to identify the over flowing ponds on priority basis so that the excess water flowing in the ponds could be utilized for irrigation purposes.

          Describing Housing for All as a big-ticket project, the Chief Minister directed the officers concerned to take effective steps to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries got benefit of the scheme. A scheme should be prepared for providing housing facility to the residents of Rajiv Colony in Panchkula, and slum dwellers around the Majri Chowk, he added.

          According to a survey conducted by the Urban Local Bodies Department, 3.59 lakh eligible beneficiaries have been identified under the Housing for All Scheme in the state which included 3.06 lakh in urban areas and 53,000 in slums areas.

         In all, 12 check dams are to be constructed in the Shivalik foothills to tap excess water flowing during the rainy season. Out of these, six dams are in advance stages of construction. For the remaining dams, the Department of Irrigation and Water Resources is in the process of obtaining NOC from the Upper Yamuna River Board.

          Regarding setting up 50 lakes in the state, the agency finalized to conduct feasibility study would submit its report by August 15, 2018. The department has also identified 15 water bodies in Sonipat and Palwal, which would be filled during this monsoon season.

            Among those present at the meeting included Health Minister, Mr Anil Vij, Urban Local Bodies Minister, Mrs Kavita Jain, Minister of State for Public Health and Engineering, Dr Banwari Lal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Rajesh Khullar, and other senior officers of the various departments.

YOGA AAYOG: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that the State Government would consider the demand put forth by the Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev regarding constituting a Yoga Aayog in the State.

          Baba Ramdev today called on the Chief Minister here today regarding the International Yoda Day. He appreciated the Chief Minister for promoting yoga and establishing vyayamshalas in the state. Baba Ramdev said that he would assist in preparations of International Yoga Day on June 21.

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