The Haryana Government has asked the Union Government to declare Haryana Sub-Region (HSR) a zone of strategic national interest and demanded special annual financial support in the Union Budget 2015-16 to ensure satisfactory urban infrastructure.
The demand was made by the Finance Minister Abhimanyu while speaking at the pre-Budget meeting of State Finance Ministers with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Friday.
HSR consists of 35 urban centres, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Panipat, Sonepat and Rohtak. The growth rate of urban population in the zone has been above 60 per cent, the highest among all the constituents of National Capital Region. These urban centres face a rapid growth in population as the workforce travels to work from here to the Capital.
HSR requires huge investments in almost all sectors, including road network, mass rapid transport system, housing, sewage and waste disposal, power, water supply to cater to the growing demands of the areas. The Minister said Haryana cannot create the desirable infrastructure facilities from own funds. “The loans provided by the NCR Planning Board are not sufficient for creating the infrastructure required. The Union Government should assist Haryana through capital grants to improve the quality of life of the areas surrounding Delhi,” said Captain Abhimanyu.
Haryana surrounds New Delhi on three sides and 45.47 per cent of the geographical area of Haryana falls in the NCR. One of the fastest growing economic regions of the country, it has a huge potential for creating employment opportunities for millions as well as for contributing to the national economy. Constant capital investment is required for maintenance of the existing infrastructure as well for creation of new infrastructure in the HSR. Haryana is the most urbanised State among the three NCR states other than National Capital Territory of Delhi.
According to the Sub-Regional Plan 2021, funds required for the development of expressways, national highways and State highways for 2013-17 has been estimated at Rs.15,343 crore. For the development of rapid rail transit system, Rs.2,194 crore would be required for Delhi-Sonepat-Panipat Corridor and Rs.1,684 crore for Delhi Gurgaon-Rewari-Alwar Corridor as Haryana’s share. Thus, the total amount required for the execution of these projects will be Rs.3,878 crore.
“The Haryana Government wants these projects to be declared as projects of national importance, which should be funded wholly by Government of India,” the Finance Minister said.
