Ahead of announcement of Delhi assembly poll date, PM Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate and lay foundation stone for a number of infrastructure projects for the national capital this week. These include inauguration of the World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar, handing over of govt flats at Sarojini Nagar, opening of a 13-km section of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) connecting New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Sahibabad in Ghaziabad, and laying of foundation of the Rithala-Kundli metro line.

The programmes are scheduled for Jan 3 and Jan 5. The Election Commission is likely to announce the poll date early next week. Eight events, including a public meeting, would be held on Friday. "We are expecting some major announcements to boost the city's infrastructure, particularly in the road and transport sector, and major social welfare schemes," a source said. The poor upkeep of roads in the capital has been a major issue that BJP is using to target the AAP govt.

Sources said, around one-fourth of the 1,700 flats that have been completed at the redeveloped Sarojoni Nagar govt housing complex are likely to be allotted to central govt employees. In the case of the World Trade Centre, which is a flagship commercial project of the central govt, all commercial spaces have been sold or leased out.

Officials said the PM is likely to inaugurate the Ashok Nagar-Sahibabad stretch of the RRTS corridor This will establish fast-rail connectivity between Meerut and the national capital, bringing down travel time to nearly an hour. Though the inauguration of this section was slated for last Sunday, it was postponed due to the seven-day national mourning announced following the death of former PM Manmohan Singh on December 26.

Similarly, PM Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the new metro line between Rithala and Kundli. The Union Cabinet, on Dec 6, had approved the 26.5-km corridor of Delhi Metro's phase-IV project, which will improve connectivity between the national capital and neighbouring Haryana. The Rs 62.30 billion corridor is scheduled to be completed in four years.