Faridabad's getting ready

It’s turning out to be the Cinderella of NCR. No, the grime and dust is not yet gone but there are indications that the mops are out in this town located in South Delhi’s backyard. Basking in JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) glory — It’s the only town in NCR to get a credit rating in the first list — Faridabad may be turning the corner.It has already emerged as a real estate destination for its still affordable properties and its population is now 13.4 lakh and steadily growing.With the Metro now knocking at its door and the 4.4-km-long flyover from Badarpur to become a reality in the near future, Faridabad can look forward to much better connectivity. Officials say the situation would become even better when the western peripheral expressway (Kundli-Manesar-Palwal) and eastern peripheral expressway (Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal) become operational.And all the signs of a city poised for a developmental leap are there. Attractive hoardings on vacant industrial plots announce upcoming IT and corporate parks. The newly widened roads and crossings could be envy of the congested national capital. Stray cattle, once a traffic hazard, has been removed, thanks to the corporation.With Rs 2,168 crore to be spent by 2012 on infrastructure, the effort is showing but so are the slips, all the more. Waterlogged roads, leaking sewage pipes and tubewells pumping out filthy water are also common sights. Residents say things have improved significantly ever since the municipal corporation of Faridabad loosened its purse-strings because of financial help under JNNURM.In the absence of a proper public transport system, people are forced to rely on private transport and polluting three-wheelers.Faridabad needs comprehensive plans for sewerage, stormwater disposal, roads, parking and beautification of traffic junctions.