Delhi ministers ignored for ITO skywalk inauguration

The Centre and Delhi government stood wide apart yet again, this time over ITO's skywalk inauguration on October 15: the inivite for October 15 event skips Delhi ministers, with the ruling AAP saying the occasion does not demand credit-taking.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' invite has Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MP Meenakshi Lekhi. No Delhi minister or MLA from the Aam Aadmi Party figures in the invite.

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri is will inaugurate the skywalk on October 15.

The invite read: "Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs cordially invites you to the inauguration ceremony of Skywalk and FOB (Foot Over Bridge) at 'W' point, ITO by Hardeep S. Puri, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs under the chairmanship of Anil Baijal, Lt. Governor, Delhi in the august presence of Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament on Monday, October 15 at 3 p.m. near Pragati Maidan Metro Station," .

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said his government is only dedicated towards making Delhi beautiful.

"No issue, we want to work. Delhi should look beautiful and the life of people here should improve. Congratulations for the inauguration," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

Speaking to the media, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said he is happy the skywalk will help people.

"While dividing the work, they gave us the construction part and took the inauguration part. I am happy that it is ready and looking beautiful. We don't mind if they want to inaugurate projects, but we want that they should let us work," Jain told media.

The skywalk, constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi government, has been designed to ease pedestrian movement along Mathura Road, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Sikandra Road.

--IANS

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