Haryana State PCS

• 11 Dec 2023

Gurugram Metro Rail Limited launched for Cyber City connectivity to Millennium City Center

Why in News?

On December 7, 2023, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal, who is also the Chairman of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation, informed that Gurugram Metro Rail Limited has been launched to implement metro connectivity from Millennium City Center to Cyber City Gurugram project.

Key Points:

• A circular dynamic corridor will be built connecting the Millennium City Center to Subhash Chowk, Railway Station, Rejangla Chowk to Cyber City in a full circle. It will be handled by the new company (Gurugram Metro Rail Limited), which will be headed by the Union Urban Development Secretary. In this, there will be a 50 percent joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Haryana.
• All upcoming projects will be implemented by the new company, while the existing Rapid Metro project will be handled by HMRTC.
• The project, estimated to cost Rs 5452.72 crore, will span 28.50 km with 27 stations. The processes of pre-construction activities including its geotechnical investigation and design consultation have already been initiated.
• There has been an increase of 35.54 percent in the ridership of Rapid Metro Gurugram as compared to the last year period and this number has reached 80,13,765 passengers, whereas in the last year this number was 59,12,457.
• The metro connectivity project from Vatika Chowk to Panchgaon envisages a 30 km corridor, for which M/s RITES has been appointed as the consultant.
• After the announcement by Chief Minister Manohar Lal, the expansion of metro connectivity from Ballabgarh to Palwal has started. Technical feasibility study of the temporary corridor with a length of 25 km and 10 proposed stations is being done, which will make this extension an important link in enhancing regional connectivity.

More than Rs 1,457.13 crore spent under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Haryana in the last 3 years

Why in News?

According to information received by Haryana's Directorate of Information, Public Relations and Languages on December 7, 2023, Haryana has spent more than Rs 1,457.13 crore in the last three years under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This also includes a significant allocation of Rs 538.85 crore for education.

Key Points:

• This involves identifying and facilitating priority areas for each sector through the use of CSR funds.
• Two categories have been highlighted based on the CSR projects and initiatives & their execution, time frame for completion. Category 1 consists of projects that can be implemented within the current financial year (till March 31, 2024).
• Category 2 includes projects that can be executed within one to two years and will be implemented in phases.
• Haryana State CSR Trust (HSCSRT) has a dedicated web portal where all government departments and districts can submit their potential CSR projects. These submissions are visible to HSCSRT, government departments and corporate partners, who can also propose their potential projects via email to HSCSRT.
• The CSR areas identified include eliminating hunger, poverty & malnutrition, promoting health care, preventive health & hygiene, providing sanitation & safe drinking water, empowerment through education, vocational skills and livelihoods.