Metro connectivity be extended to Greater Noida, Sonepat:panel

A Parliamentary panel has recommended the Urban Development (UD) ministry should work towards providing metro connectivity to Sonepat and Greater Noida.
In its report on the demand for grants for 2013-14 tabled in parliament today, the Standing Committee on Urban Development said the Urban Development ministry should hold talks with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Delhi and Haryana in this regard.
The panel said he metro connectivity is now available in Delhi and extended to Noida, Vaishali in UP and Gurgaon in Haryana. The panel said it felt Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors connecting areas like Sonepat would take time and the UD ministry should work towards it.

The committee also recommended expansion of airport metro links in cities apart from Delhi, where such a line is already functioning.
It also said that to improve metro connectivity there should be a separate funding for feeder buses.
The panel also sought that the UD ministry should form a specific policy on monorail and conduct a pilot project in the congested areas of metropolitan cities and come out with a policy and guidelines for implementation of 'congestion tax' by all the states.
The committee also said DDA was considering granting permission for Group Housing Developments on the industrial plots on the peripheral roads. It recommended the process should be expedited so that housing problem can be solved in Delhi.