Process to set up Faridabad metropolitan authority begins

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, August 28

The state government has begun the exercise to prepare the framework of the proposal for setting up the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) on the pattern of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority. A committee chaired by the Principal Secretary, Urban Local Bodies, has started the work, it is learnt.

Though, the final proposal of the FMDA is likely to be ready within six months time, the authorities are expected to present the framework before the Chief Minister, Manohar Lal, within a week, revealed the sources in the department concerned. A meeting chaired by Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain on Monday cleared the proposal and directed the officials concerned to submit the plan soon, it is reported. The FMDA will be second such authority in the state after the GMDA, as Faridabad, the largest populated city in Haryana was also faced with the challenge of proper and speedy development. “The fact that lack of coordination and communication between various agencies like the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF), HUDA (now known as HSVP), and PWD, entrusted with the various development projects had been mired in various hurdles regarding clearance and execution, resulting in overall delay and allegations of corruption at various level in completion of the works,’’ an official spoke on condition of anonymity. Sometimes the seniority and protocol attached to positions of the officials concerned create problems in carrying out the projects, he added.

Admitting that a three member committee headed by Anand Mohan Saran, Principal Secretary, Urban Local Bodies, had started the work on the draft proposal, Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner, MCF, said he and CEO of the GMDA were the two other officials included in the committee. “The purpose is to provide integrated and coordinated planning with infrastructure development, provision of urban amenities, mobility management coupled with social, economic and industrial development to provide quality of life to the residents of Faridabad,’’ says the bill to be introduced by the state government. With a population of over 16 lakhs, the city is rapidly expanding urban agglomeration and required a more balanced and speedy infrastructure development, it is claimed.