Train truth: Sheila,Maya on two ends in claim game over Metro

In Delhi,the train was flagged off by Union Minister for Urban Development S Jaipal Reddy and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. It,however,had an indifferent debut run towards the neighbouring state since no leader or senior official rode in it.

On the other hand,Chief Minister Mayawati sent off the train from the Noida City Centre and also travelled in it till the Noida Sector 16 station,Z+ security and all. She was accompanied by Managing Director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) E Sreedharan.

At the inauguration ceremony in Akshardham,Dikshit said: “Stepping out of the confines of Delhi,DMRC will now reach NCR. The first train has been flagged off and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh will receive it at the Noida City Centre. By next year-end,those living here for decades will not be able to recognise Delhi.”

On the other end,Mayawati claimed: “Soon after I took over as the chief minister,I asked the Noida Authority to connect the city with Metro and to engage the DMRC for this.” She congratulated her government for bringing the Metro ‘on time’,though it had missed its June deadline by a whisker.

Mayawati also seized on the Metro platform to talk about other upcoming projects. She said: “I have plans to make Noida and Greater Noida attractive for industrialists. Metro is a step towards that direction. I hope the Metro will be helpful to all. It was my government that fast-tracked the work and gave DMRC the financial support it needed.” Out of the total cost of Rs 827 crore,Noida has given Rs 557 crore.

Mayawati also said the area would be an industrial hub once the Jewar airport is in place. “Directives have also been issued to complete the 165-kilometre long Yamuna Expressway from Greater Noida to Agra. This will promote tourism.”

She further announced an industrial corridor between Dadri and Mumbai. She said her government spends Rs 2,000 crore every year on Gautam Budha Nagar alone.

Some other projects:* Dr Bhimrao multi-specialty hospital
* Manyawar Shri Kanshiramji multi-speciality hospital
* Mahamaya Balika Intercollege and Panchsheel Boys’ Intercollege in Noida
* Savitri Bai Phule Balika Intercollege and Gautam Buddha Boys’ Intercollege in Greater Noida
* Gautam Budha University in Greater Noida
*mes under Dr Ambedkar Samagra Gram Vikas Yojana

Akhilesh recalls SP’s Metro MoU
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh’s son laid claim on the Metro too. Akhilesh Yadav said: “In 2006,the SP signed an MoU with the Delhi government and agreed to give land to DMRC. At the city centre,the foundation stone for the Metro was laid by Amar Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav.” He added his father laid the foundation stone in Vaishali. “My father wanted Noida and Ghaziabad to develop.”