An ‘Intelligent Tracking System’ (ITS) would be established under the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the new administrative capital. A decision to this effect was taken in the 31st meeting of the Board of Directors of Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) held here. Under ITS, the tracing system for buses, operation and management of BRTS system would be carried out and ticketing process would also be linked. The system would be ready for use within the next nine months.
This apart, the NRDA would also be constructing a state-of-art school for the children of project affected families in Naya Raipur. The children admitted to the school would be provided free education and the tendering process for the project would commence within a month.
NRDA Chief Executive Officer Rajat Kumar informed in the meeting that educational institutions and hospitals have evinced interest in setting up their establishments in Naya Raipur. In the healthcare sector, Apollo Hospitals, Narayana Hrudalaya and Wockhardt have displayed interest in setting up their facilities in the new capital, he said.
NRDA Chairman N Baijendra Kumar directed officials to expedite the process of allocating residential plots to the government employees in Naya Raipur.
Chhattisgarh Government has floated ‘Naya Raipur Mass Transport Company’ for ensuring proper management of public transport system in the State’s new administrative capital, officials said. The Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) has also formed a Board of Directors for the new company.
Naya Raipur would have 10 bus shelters and a depot. A total of 40 premium and 10 mini buses are being purchased under BRTS. The buses would be operated with a automated mechanism and ticket services would be offered in line with the metros.
Notably, The World Bank has extended support to Rs 179 crore ‘Bus Rapid Transit System’ (BRTS) project currently under implementation which would have 40 air-conditioned buses plying between Raipur and Naya Raipur, officials stated.
It may also be recalled that Chief Minister Raman Singh has already accorded in-principle approval for formation of a separate ‘Tree Plantation Forest Circle’ under Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) for ensuring organized plantation work in the new administrative capital.
The proposal for plantation work in Naya Raipur would be examined and an appropriate decision would be taken, the Chief Minister stated in a meeting held at his residence here recetnly. The proposal was put forward by NRDA.
Singh had stated that Naya Raipur is being developed in an area of 237 square kilometres and it is necessary that the people living in the new capital would need a green environment.
The Government has also identified sites for permanent and temporary campuses for the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Durg and New Raipur respectively.
The Mentor Institute of the new IIT in Chhattisgarh would be IIT Hyderabad. In the Union Budget Speech 2014-15, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely had announced to set up five IITs in the Jammu, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and five IIMs in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra.
The State Governments are to identify suitable land measuring about 500-600 acres which is to be allotted free of cost, free of legal encumbrances at a location having necessary infrastructure such as road, rail and air connectivity, physical infrastructure and basic-facilities for setting up of the IITs.
A budgetary provision of Rs1000 Crore under Plan Head has been made for these institutes during the year, 2015-16. But, no expenditure as on date has been incurred in this regard.
The first academic session of the Institutes, whose sites for permanent and temporary campuses have been approved will commence from 2015-16.
Construction and completion of the new/permanent campuses will depend upon handing over of the land, free of any legal encumbrance by the respective State Governments.
This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smriti Irani in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
On the other hand, the process for development of Phase-I of the state-of-art campus of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) including its building Raipur will commence shortly, officials here stated.
The Phase-I of the campus is being developed at a cost of Rs296.45 crore with the completion of the works being estimated within a period of two years, they stated.
Significantly, the Chhattisgarh Government had been focussing on providing an elaborate platform for various institutions to establish their state-of-art campus in the new administrative capital.