Rajnath to dedicate slew of projects

First Air India flight from Lucknow to Najaf, two multilevel parking lots and a sewer network

LUCKNOW : Union home minister Rajnath Singh will flag off the Air India flight to Najaf (Iraq) at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport at 10 am on Thursday.

“Najaf is considered to be one of the most sacred places for Muslims,” said Shakeel Ahmed, manager Air India in Lucknow. He said, “More than 100 passengers are expected to board the first flight to Najaf from the state capital.”

Shia cleric Kalbe Jawwad said, “We thank the union home minister for starting a flight from Lucknow to Najaf , which is one of the most important places for Shias and Sunnis . Najaf is known for the tomb of Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib, which holds the utmost importance for Shias. It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more pilgrims than Najaf. This flight would connect Muslims with the historic city as it also houses Imam Ali’s mosque which is one of the holiest Islamic sites.”

But this is not all.

In Chowk, the union minister will dedicate Jyotiba Phule multilevel parking to the people. Trader leader Vinod Maheshwari said, “Fours years ago, we sat on a dharna demanding a multilevel parking in Chowk. The union home minister came to the dharna site and assured us that our demand would be met. Now the parking is ready to be dedicated to residents on Thursday. Rajnath Singh has kept his promise.”

He said, “Everyone knows that with most of the houses in Chowk situated in narrow lanes, residents parked their vehicles on the roads. Now they will have the facility of parking their vehicles inside the parking lot. Trade was hitherto affected in the area as people avoided coming here due to parking problems. So this parking is also expected to increase sale of local traders.”

Rajnath will also dedicate to the people a multilevel parking on Nadan Mahal road which will solve the parking woes of local traders and residents.

He will also inaugurate sewer projects in Catt Vidhan sabha constituency . The projects worth R269.68 crores would be completed in the next two years.” Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia said, “This constituency did not have a sewer network till now, but the home minister has generated the funds for this and we are grateful to him.”

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Fours years ago, we sat on a dharna demanding a multilevel parking in Chowk. The union home minister came to the dharna site and assured us that our demand would be met. VINOD MAHESHWARI, trader leader