The Hindu : New Delhi News : Nod for Central Secretariat-Badarpur Metro

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Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006
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Nod for Central Secretariat-Badarpur Metro

Staff Reporter

To be completed well before the Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI: In a major fillip to the public transport sector in the Capital, the Delhi Cabinet on Monday gave its in-principle nod for the Central Secretariat-Badarpur Metro corridor that would pass through Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and would be complete by 2009. It also approved creation of a separate "Health Services" cadre under the Delhi Government.

These decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Ms. Dikshit disclosed that the Metro corridor from Central Secretariat to Badarpur via Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium also came up for discussion. The proposal has been given the green signal but the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been asked to answer certain queries raised by the Cabinet and the Government.

The new corridor would be completed by 2009, well before the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

This would not only ease the traffic flow around congested areas but also provide state-of-the-art facilities for movement of spectators, media persons and other visitors to commute to different games venues easily. The 19.9 km corridor with 4.9 km underground and 15 km elevated section would have 14 stations. The Central Secretariat and Khan Market stations would be underground whereas JLN Stadium would be at ground level and 11 others would be elevated. The corridor would also provide direct and shortest possible route to important events area and business area of the Nehru Place and reduce journey time considerably.

The Cabinet also decided to create the Delhi Health Services cadre for effectively managing the health delivery system in the city. The State Health and Family Welfare Department has been authorised to take consequential steps including holding of consultations with the Union Public Services Commission either for framing service regulations or seeking assessment of the suitability of the persons to be appointed under initial constitution. Ms Dikshit expressed confidence that the constitution of the new service would make the process of recruitment smooth.

The initial constitution of the service shall provide for appointment by transfer from Central Health Service and by transfer among those who have been appointed by the Delhi Government on contract basis on or before April 10, 2006. The Delhi Government has 1,174 sanctioned posts of General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs), 410 Non-Teaching Specialists, 349 Teaching Specialists and four Public Health Specialists.

Even after making contract appointments against ex-cadre posts the department is short of 238 GDMOs and 53 Non-Teaching Specialists. The constitution of the new services would also go a long way in protecting interests of the Medical staff.

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