Land pooling policy, delay in Delhi Metro projects discussed at high level meeting

Vehicles move during busy traffic hours in India's financial hub Mumbai August 25, 2008. The twisted metal of smashed up cars lining highways is a grim testament to India's road toll, one of the worst in the world with around 100,000 people killed in traffic accidents last year alone. Traffic accidents in India are set to rise as rising incomes and a booming economy mean more cars and trucks on the roads. To match feature INDIA TRAFFIC REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe (INDIA) - RTR21Q5I

Issues pertaining to implementation of the land pooling policy, increasing traffic congestion, land management by DDA, problems relating to unauthorised colonies, delay in the fourth phase of the Delhi Metro project, resource constraints of municipal corporations of Delhi, were discussed at a high-level meeting the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri had with Delhi MPs and mayors of the three municipal corporations on Monday, sources said.

Puri said that matters relating to urban infrastructure development in the national capital will be discussed with Delhi MPs and mayors every month from now on. The first such meeting held today in Nirman Bhawan was attended by the Lt Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal, Lok Sabha members from Delhi and mayors of the three municipal corporations of Delhi. The meeting lasted for one-and-a-half hour.

Puri said that regular interaction on issues pertaining to Delhi would help in addressing various bottlenecks and DDA and MCDs need to take necessary action on various issues raised in the review meetings for visible improvement, sources said.

LG Anil Baijal urged MPs and mayors to work in tandem for better results. Noting that it is easier to address issues relating to police, law and order and land which are under his direct control, he urged MPs and mayors to pursue more rigorously issues relating to transferred subjects coming under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government.

Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary (HUA) informed the MPs and mayors that works for decongestion of traffic at Mahipalpur, EUR-1, ITPO and Kashmere Gate will be taken up soon.

MPs have suggested to the Ministry and the DDA to examine if the same share of developed land could be given to land owners irrespective of the size of the land pooled under the Land Pooling Policy. This policy proposed to give 60 percent of developed land back to owners if the pooled land is above 20 hectares and 48 percent if it is between 2 and 20 hectares.

MPs and mayors stressed the need for more foot-over bridges in different parts of Delhi and the need to ensure that Delhi Metro services are available to the people of rural areas.