Here are City Spidey's top five picks from the National Capital Region (NCR):
Noida
Pollution monitor for odd-even: The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) will evaluate the impact of Delhi's odd-even drive on pollution levels in Noida. A manual ambient air-quality-monitoring system was installed at the regional pollution control office last week for the purpose. It will also mark the difference in pollution levels in the aftermath of the scheme.
Step towards improved public transport: At long last, there is some movement towards an improved public-transport system in Noida and Greater Noida. The Meerut Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has sent a file on the city bus service to the state transport headquarters in Lucknow. The headquarters will formulate and notify the scheme.
Ghaziabad
Summer is here, so are power cuts: Long power outages in the city on Friday has laid bare the fickle nature of the promises made by Pashchimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL). PVVNL officials had earlier assured residents of improved power supply in summer. The various measures the electricity board claimed to have taken — such as new power stations and upgradation of old ones — have fallen flat.
Gurugram
MCG gears up to maintain Huda sectors: A month ahead of the transfer of Huda sectors to MCG, Commissioner TL Satyaprakash sounded confident on a smooth transition. Maintenance of the Huda sectors will now be under the jurisdiction of the civic body from May 15. Satyaprakash said that as the manpower and machinery of Huda will be transferred to MCG, it will face no hurdles in maintaining the new areas.
Forest fire "a good omen": Forest officials see the huge fire that broke out in the Aravalli forest area on Thursday as a good sign. The blaze that spread rapidly over a 2-km area in Titdali village near Badshahpur was brought under control by firefighters. Forest fires, which are rare in the Aravallis, the officials say, take place only when there is enough grass and trees.
