Delhi, UP ink transport pact

The UP and Delhi Govt sign a transport agreement for smooth and better public transport between the Capital and the neighbouring state, reports Amitabh Shukla.

The UP and Delhi governments on Monday signed a transport agreement for smooth and better public transport between the Capital and the neighbouring state. The pact, signed after 23 years, will benefit lakhs of residents of Uttar Pradesh who commute to Delhi everyday.

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“We were running bus services to Lahore in Pakistan but not to Ghaziabad. This was embarrassing for both the governments. All disputes have now been laid to rest,” said Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf after the two Transport Secretaries signed a draft agreement. Yusuf’s counterpart in UP, Ram Achal Rajbhar said it was extremely important for both the states.

Commuters of UP and Delhi had a torrid time for six months from November 2006 to May 2007 when both the state governments seized each other buses and practically declared a “transport war”. Lakhs of commuters faced hardships and the Delhi-UP border resembled borders of two warring countries. When Mayawati became the Chief Minister of UP in May last year, the crisis was over but still there was no agreement on the movement of the buses and other vehicles.

The existing DTC and private buses in Noida and Greater Noida would continue to be an extension of the city operation by Delhi's buses.

The minister said that the next step was to provide taxi and auto rickshaw services between NCR and Delhi.