Gurgaon: Lack of metro connectivity and delay in the shifting of Kherki Daula toll plaza are hurting the growth of industries in Manesar, industrialists told chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar during an event held in IMT Manesar on Saturday.
The IMT Manesar Industrial Association said while Noida has successfully extended its Aqua Line metro network, Gurgaon’s metro connectivity has remained restricted to Huda City Centre.
‘’Despite the best of infrastructure in IMT Manesar, industrial workers refrain from coming to the area due to the unavailability of a public transport system, which is a big concern for industries based here. The absence of skilled manpower is the reason IT industries are unable to expand and grow here, as most of them prefer to go to Noida rather than coming to Manesar,” said Pawan Kumar Yadav, industrialist and president of IMT Manesar association.
The other major issue highlighted by the industry representatives was the long-delayed shifting of Kherki Dhaula toll plaza. They stated that the toll plaza is a big hurdle in industrial growth in the area. “Industries are facing delivery issues and their employees also often get delayed while coming to work, causing productivity loss,” stated the memorandum submitted to the chief minister by the association on Saturday.
Responding to these concerns, CM Khattar said the land acquisition for the metro line from Gurgaon to Bawal through Manesar has been completed and work on the project, estimated to cost Rs 8,000 crore, will commence soon. On the issue of the shifting of the toll, Khattar said: “Land acquisition for the shifting of the toll has been done. It should be done within the next six months.”
The government, however, has made similar commitments of shifting the toll in the past as well and failed to adhere to such deadlines.
Industrialists also sought an increase in the floor area ratio (FAR) in industrial areas. The chief minister responded by giving in-principle approval to increase FAR from 150 to 200. Other issues presented before the CM included the need for streetlights, a government hospital, garbage collection and management mechanism and public conveniences for women employees in the area.
Addressing these issues, Khattar said with the formation of the Municipal Corporation of Manesar, all the civic issues in the area will soon be streamlined. “The contract for streetlights under MCM has been already finalised and an agency for waste management will be appointed soon. With MCM coming into existence, we are certain that IMT Manesar will emerge as one of the best industrial areas in the entire country,” Khattar said.