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New AIIMS flyover inaugurated

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 16. Lauding the development-oriented agenda being followed and implemented by the Sheila Dikshit Government, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi, yesterday declared that the Congress Party would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in five States on the issue of development and good governance.

``The dharma of the Government is not to rule society but to serve the people and the Sheila Dikshit Government has fulfilled its role in this regard with full competence and effectiveness during the past four and a half years. The series of flyovers marking the skyline of the city are an indication of the development agenda and the kind of work done by the Congress Government in Delhi. It is also heartening to know that the rehabilitation of all those displaced by the construction of the flyover has been done in a most appropriate manner,'' Ms. Gandhi said while addressing a public meeting at the inauguration of the Rs. 68-crore signal-free Rajiv Gandhi Setu at the busy AIIMS crossing on Ring Road. Also present on the occasion was the senior party leader in charge of Delhi, Ahmed Patel, and State PWD Minister, A.K. Walia.

Showering praise on the Sheila Dikshit Government, Ms. Gandhi said it was always Rajiv Gandhi's dream that Delhi should have a series of flyovers for smooth traffic movement and it was an emotional moment for her now that his dream was being fulfilled. Incidentally, Rajiv Gandhi had held his last public meeting in Delhi on May 17, days before his assassination, near the flyover site in East Kidwai Nagar. She said the Congress had always fulfilled its development agenda and never took support of religion or emotional issues to win elections.

Dedicating this first designer flyover to the people of Delhi, she said it was appropriate that the flyover was named after Rajiv Gandhi as he had always focused on development and investment in infrastructure. Being critical of the political parties and their leaders who were always critical of the "good works'' done by the Congress Governments for the sake of criticism, the Congress president said: "I do not want to say anything political today. Politics has reached such a level that several politicians don't even allow those people to function who are dedicating themselves for the welfare of the people.''

Getting emotional and speaking in a choked voice while recalling fond memories of her husband and the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, who had mooted the idea of flyovers during the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi, Ms. Gandhi said it is a befitting tribute to Rajiv Gandhi that the flyover has been named after him. He was not only the leader of the younger generation but also of the new millennium. He was a leader with new ideas and vision.

Recollecting her first visit to Delhi way back in 1968, Ms. Gandhi said the Capital then was a very small place. "Over the years it has expanded tremendously. There is no doubt that problems have increased over the years due to population growth. I am satisfied that all successive Congress Governments in the Capital have tried to solve the problems of Delhi to the best of their capabilities,'' Ms. Gandhi said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Dikshit termed Rajiv Gandhi as the great son of India and said naming the flyover after him was a great tribute to him. She said the Congress Government was committed to following the path of development and people oriented politics as outlined by the former Prime Minister. The flyover, she said, was totally environment friendly with extensively landscaped greens and proper provisions for rain water harvesting. The complex includes a curved flyover of 122 meters length and 22.5 meters width, straight flyover of 102 meters length and 210 width loops and slip roads involving a length of 3,400 meters and concrete underpass including two subways.

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