Raman made Noida chairman again

The state government on Saturday once again appointed Rama Raman as chairman of the Noida authority

The state government on Saturday once again appointed Rama Raman as chairman of the Noida authority, besides making him principal secretary of the state’s industrial development department.

Rama Raman (extreme right) said completion of the Noida to Greater Noida metro link is one of his priorities. (Sunil Ghosh/HT File Photo)

The principal secretary of the power department, Sanjay Aggarwal, who was given additional charge as the chairman of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities, will now hold additional charge as chairman of Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities. He will continue to hold his position in the power department.

Raman’s appointment was part of a reshuffle in which 11 IAS officers were shifted.

On July 4, the state government had removed Raman as chairman of the three authorities after the Allahabad high court had seized his powers in response to a petition filed by Jitendra Kumar Goel, a social activist. However, on September 19, the same court dismissed the petition and allowed the state government to re-appoint him.

He will officially take charge in Lucknow on October 13 after the five-day Dussehra holidays end. After his appointment, Raman said he will now have to spend more time in Lucknow to execute his duties as principal secretary, but his priorities for Noida are clear.

“My priority is to complete mega infrastructure projects, including the 30-km Noida-Greater Noida Metro, the 4.8-km elevated road and the underpasses to address traffic congestion. Resolving farmers’ and homebuyers’ issues is also on top of my agenda,” he said.

“We are happy that the state government has appointed Rama Raman as chairman of Noida authority once again. He can address buyers’ issues because he already knows each and every problem and its solution. A new officer takes time to understand an issue and then takes a call. However, Raman can take decisions quickly because he has confidence and an understanding of this area,” said Indresh Gupta, founder of Noida Extension flat owners’ welfare association .

“The state government is working on a new scheme, of which the ‘exit policy’ is a part. It can address issues related to homebuyers and builders. After October 13, I will plan the date of a board meeting to pave the way for solutions,” said Raman.