After Haryana cabinet nod, GMDA officials roll up sleeves

With the Haryana cabinet passing the bill for setting up of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), the city officials have begun preparations for the official functioning of the centralised city body.

The search for the locations of new GMDA office has begun. An official source highlighted that an area of around 15,000 square feet is being scouted for official premises of GMDA. Presently, GMDA is operating in a makeshift office camp in Civil Lines area of the city.

Also, applications for the recruitment of manpower have started. The officials have listed out their requirement of staff that includes clerical purposes.

Besides the preparations for the official functioning of GMDA, the public officials are involving the citizens of Gurugram for designing GMDA's logo. An online competition has been initiated by the officials in which the best logo will be selected on the basis of ratings. This got highly popular among the citizens more because the winner will be awarded Rs one lakh.

The bill of GMDA is expected to be presented in the Haryana state assembly which will convene a special session on May 4. After its formation, the centralised body is expected to be responsible for key infrastructural developments like development and maintenance of land records, road networks, drainage systems and the horticultural projects.

It will also be accountable for the collection of External Development Charge (EDC) builders and utilise it for the civil maintenance projects in the city.

"The Chief Minister will be supervising the affairs of the proposed body," said sources.

Various challenges and dissent over the formation of the body had prevented its formation in the past.

A major challenge seems to GMDA has come from the workers from Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), whose certain functions is expected to be taken over by GMDA.

In the past frequent strikes by the workers in HUDA who have voiced concern over their job prospects with GMDA taking over some functions of HUDA. Major differences have also been expressed over the key ministers and bureaucrats handling the affairs of the body from Chandigarh than from Gurugram.