Karnal’s inclusion in NCR of no avail

Parveen Arora

Karnal was included in the National Capital Region (NCR) more than three years ago but local residents are still waiting for facilities to be provided by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), New Delhi, which works under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Karnal along with Jind was included in the NCR on June 9, 2015, during the 35th meeting of the NCRPB in New Delhi presided over by the then Union Minister for Urban Development, M. Venkaiah Naidu, now Vice-President of the country. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had attended the meeting. With this, the number of Haryana districts included in the NCR rose to 13, covering almost half of the NCR area. Though the announcement in this regard was made on January 20, 2014, during the previous Congress government but due to some reasons it was not implemented. 

Karnal residents were elated as they thought they would get better facilities and development. They had hoped for better transport facilities such as a High Speed High Frequency Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) and Metro trains, job opportunities, and more funds for development, besides more industries, but even after three years nothing has happened. 

Some residents have written to the NCR authorities and the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to extend them the facilities as mandated for the NCR. They say that Karnal’s inclusion in the NCR has reduced the life of petrol and diesel vehicles with the implementation of strict norms. 

“We had hoped that Karnal district would witness better development but even after three years we haven’t got even one facility specified for the NCR,” says Rajeev Kumar, a social activist who has written to the NCR authorities.

Dr Gyan Parkash Bhargava, a retired scientist, says that they were expecting the extension of Metro train and Rapid rail services to Karnal, but still no headway has been made in this regard. The government should expedite development projects in Karnal, he adds. 

Hitesh Kumar, a resident of Ram Nagar, says, “The inclusion of Karnal in the NCR should have boosted all round development and economic progress in the district, but nothing has happened”.

Manoj Wadhwa, former Deputy Mayor and INLD leader, who had contested the last Assembly elections against the Chief Minister, says that the impact of the inclusion of Karnal in the NCR should have been visible in the last three years. 

Harvinder Kalyan, Hafed Chairman and Gharaunda MLA, is hopeful that long-term benefits will accrue to Karnal that has been included in the NCR due to the efforts of the Chief Minister. The NCR Planning Board has been created to promote economic and infrastructural growth in the NCR. A regional transport system is also being developed. It will connect Delhi to Panipat in the first phase and Karnal in the next phase, he adds.

Also, in April 2018, the Union Government had in principle agreed to give adequate financial assistance to Haryana through the NCR Planning Board for setting up a medical science university at Kutail village in Karnal. 

Deputy Commissioner Aditya Dahiya says that the Central Government has constituted the NCR Planning Board and appointed a Chief Town Planner for it. All future planning for Karnal is being done in concurrence with the board that already has several development projects and plans. Many projects have been planned or are awaiting approval. Only when the projects get approval that he can share any information about them.

“The draft development plan of Karnal for 2031 is being prepared with the help of the NCR board. Industrial and commercial sectors are being planned according to the NCR requirements,” he says.

He says that Metro trains and a Rapid Rail Transit System for Karnal are under consideration.

Fact file

• Karnal along with Jind was included in the NCR on June 9, 2015, during the 35th meeting of the NCRPB in New Delhi.
• The number of Haryana districts included in the NCR rose to 13, covering almost half of the NCR area.

The Central Government has constituted the NCR Planning Board and appointed a Chief Town Planner for it. All future planning for Karnal is being done in concurrence with the board that already has several development projects and plans. The draft development plan of Karnal for 2031 is being prepared with the help of the board. Industrial and commercial sectors are being planned according to the NCR requirements. — Aditya Dahiya, Karnal DC

I am hopeful that long-term benefits will accrue to Karnal that has been included in the NCR due to the efforts of the Chief Minister. The NCR Planning Board has been created to promote economic and infrastructural growth in the NCR. A regional transport system is also being developed. It will connect Delhi to Panipat in the first phase and Karnal later. — Harvinder Kalyan, Hafed Chairman