Kabul officials landing in Gurgaon to learn township building

HUDA administrator Nitin Yadav told Newsline,“The delegation comprises senior officials from various departments in the Afghan government. They will be reaching Gurgaon on June 29. They want to look at various development models that have been taken up by us,so they can also set up satellite cities in their country.”

However,HUDA officials said the names of the visiting officials and their designations have not been disclosed till now.

There are various PPP models at work in Gurgaon. “There are various initiatives of the kind that have been successful,and the delegation will visit them when it comes here,” Yadav said,adding that they are awaiting further information from higher authorities.

NCR Senior Town Planner

Y M Mansuri said the MCG has been working on the sewer systems. “The delegation will look into these areas too,” he added.

Officials said the delegation will first come to HUDA Gymkhana at Sector-29,where they will meet officials from various departments and get information on the developmental module. After being briefed on the existing Metro and upcoming Rapid Metro systems,they will be taken for a tour of the state-of-the-art hospitals in the city.

An Afghan delegation,led by President Hamid Karzai,had visited India in 2006 and met Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy. At that time,Karzai had formally sought partnerships with India’s public and private sectors.

The Afghan government is planning to set up satellite townships with the intention of making wealthy non-resident Afghans,numbering around 30,000 according to one estimate,return home and settle down in Kabul.

As much as 90 acres of land on the outskirts of Kabul has been identified to build the townships,which will be of international standards.

Besides Gurgaon,the delegation will also visit Delhi and Noida during its visit to India.