Chief minister Sheila Dikshit today said her dream of making Delhi a world-class city is "finally coming true" with the city witnessing rapid development in the last decade.
"When I became the chief minister in 1998, I had one dream-- to make Delhi a world-class city. Today that dream is coming true," she said addressing the function held at Ambedkarnagar Stadium here.
Dikshit noted that the city has made rapid development in almost all sectors in the last decade though she stressed the need to focus upliftment of economically weaker sections.
"The government will also finalise its policy of allotment of low-cost houses, which will go a long way in making Delhi a slum-free city. Around 8000 low-cost houses have already been constructed," she said, adding "the social sector will receive the priority once the Commonwealth Games concludes."
Earlier, the chief minister unfurled the tricolour and took a guard of honour from contingents of Delhi police, Delhi fire services, civil defence and NCC as over 5000 children waved saffron, white and green cloth pieces in union that made a spectacular sight.
However, high humidity and blazing sun had its toll on the cadets performing the parade as over 15 of them fainted and had to be moved out of the ground in stretchers.
But their patriotic spirit made some of them join the parade soon after undergoing preliminary treatment when the national anthem was played. Tricolour balloons were released in the air as a symbol of love and peace.
The chief minister also gave away the president's bravery awards to widow of Narendra Kaushik, who died while saving the lives of five people after a shop caught fire and police inspector Subhash who rescued members of a family despite getting injured by the flames of a cylinder blast.
Detailing the development works, Dikshit said Delhi will become a power-surplus state soon with the opening of three more plants in the next two months.
"After successful power reforms the city will soon have equitable distribution of water in all parts. After commissioning of around two dozen UGRs it is expected that all 53 UGRs will be commissioned in near future," she said.
On the transportation sector, she said 5000 new AC low floor buses will be on the roads by October and that all the old buses in the fleet will be replaced in the next one to two years.
"The flyovers at ITO Chungi, Azadpur, Mukarba Chowk, AIIMS Crossing, Dhaula Kuan and Ghazipur Crossing have brought a sea-change in traffic management in the Capital city," the chief minister said.
To control pollution, especially that of Yamuna, the government has implemented an Interceptor system through which the drainage water is purified before flows into the river.
"Yamuna Interceptor Scheme has received acclaims from all quarters. It is an effort to make Yamuna clean in coming 2-3 years," she said.
"The city now boosts the world's 6th largest airport, metro connectivity, flyovers, strong hospitality sector and so on," she said while noting that her dream has started coming true.
Dikshit said around 100 'Jeevan' centres have become functional to provide different services such as payment of bills, issue of various certificates and application forms at one a particular place in different localities.
She noted that the city government has been releasing the highest monthly pension of Rs 1000 in the country to widows, handicapped persons and aged persons.
"The minimum wages in Delhi are also the highest in the country," the chief minister noted.
Observing that the city is all set to host an international sport event after a gap of 28 years (1982 Asian Games), she appealed to the citizens to extend a warm welcome to the tourists visiting the city in October.
"We will have a large number of foreign tourists and sport persons in the city during October. We have already given a face lift to the city to give a pleasing atmosphere to the visitors, we must be ready to give them a warm welcome with our civic sense."
