Arvind Kejriwal, Nitin Gadkari talk decongestion plan

NEW DELHI: In the afternoon, the Delhi government and the Centre were involved in a heated argument over the "office of profit" row, with CM Arvind Kejriwal requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to let the people suffer.

In the evening, the CM spent over an hour discussing projects to revive Yamuna and decongest Delhi roads with Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

Sources said the meeting steered clear of all politics. "The Delhi government has agreed to hand over Dhaula Kuan portion so that we can carry out the decongestion plan," a ministry official said. After Gadkari had faced a long traffic jam, he had announced to do away with traffic signals between Dhaula Kuan and the starting point of Delhi-Gurgaon expressway at Rao Tula Ram flyover.

He had also said that his ministry would soon ask NDMC to come out with proposals to make Sardar Patel Marg signal free. The ministry has already announced to provide the necessary fund for this project. Officials said that Delhi government has also assured to help remove encroachments along NH-24 for its widening to 14 lanes.

Sources said that Kejriwal showcased the Yamuna development plan prepared by his government, which would require Rs 6,000 crore. While Gadkari appreciated the plan, he asked the DJB officials to come out with innovative financing proposals so that less government funding is required.

Kejriwal and Gadkari also discussed the issue of dredging of Yamuna for its development.