Punjab Newspaper

‘Mini Metros’ of Punjab are all set for transformation as the Punjab Government has put in place a new model of urban development by constituting Urban Planning & Development Authorities for major cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, Patiala and SAS Nagar Mohali to implement plans for infrastructure up gradation that could amount to an estimated investment of Rs. 10980 crore and separately engaging International Consultancy Agencies for making master plans of other 40 major towns of the State.
The State Government also put in place a special development plan for Ludhiana City to be implemented at the cost of Rs. 2053 crores. The State Government already has approved a plan of Rs. 3150 crore plan for integrated development of Amritsar in ordered to put Holy City on international tourist circuit. The Asian Development Bank has already shown its keenness to be an active partner in implementing the ambitious plan of linking Sri Harmandir Sahib with Raja Sansi Airport by Mono Rail. The State Government was also approaching the Union Government for allocating funds under Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Plan by including Jalandhar, Bathinda, Patiala , SAS Nagar Mohali under the plan after finalization of their DPRs. A leading Japanese financial institution, the Japan Bank of International Cooperation,(JBIC) has already agreed in principle to fund state wide programme to provide 100 per cent water supply and sewerage connectivity in all the major cities of Punjab.

In one of the biggest initiative taken by the state government for planned and accelerated growth urban areas, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal took this step to manage and monitor the development process in the urban areas in order to bring about system and order in future growth. Starting the Urban initiative from the Holy City Amritsar, the Punjab Chief Minister besides constituting the Urban Development Authority for the Holy City also announced different projects to be executed at the cost of Rs. 3150 crores. This would include Rs. 2567 crore for Urban Transportation and Road Network, including the Elevated Road Project. The RITES engaged by the state government to study suitability of mass rapid transport system for Amritsar has suggested to run monorail in the Holy City. Besides Rs. 312 crore has been earmarked to strengthen the water supply system, solid waste management and setting up of a sewerage treatment plan. Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC) has agreed to extend a loan of Rs. 276.24 crore for the Sewerage component of another Project costing Rs. 360 crore, added Mr. Badal. Keeping in view the ample scope of tourism in Amritsar , Rs. 105 crore has been set aside for the promotion of tourism. Complete Urban Renewal including conservation, preservation and development of Culture & Heritage will be met with another Rs. 36 crore. Besides, Rs. 120 crore will be spent on Housing and providing basic services to the urban poor and Rs. 10 crore will be given for Urban Governance. The State Government has also earmarked Rs. 40 crore for construction of new Administrative Complex. Focusing on the development of basic infrastructure agreement has been signed with GVK Group to set up Thermal Plant at Sri Goindwal Sahib. The Construction of Thermal Plant would begin in next month.

A separate development programme has been initiated for the Industrial City Ludhiana to be executed at the cost of Rs. 2053 crores under Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Plan. The Plan include construction of over bridges, elevated highways, ring road, Mass Rapid Transport System like metro rail keeping in view fast paced expansion of this Industrial Mega City. Mr. Badal also approved a plan for ensuring 24 hours water and electricity supply to every home, 100 % connectivity to the sewerage system and also sewerage treatment plant and solid waste treatment plant for the City.

Putting the development of infrastructure on equal pedestal the Chief Minister has requisitioned the services of an International consultancy agency to prepare master plan 40 important towns in the State. After the finalization of their master plans Detailed Project Report in regard to these towns would be submitted to Union Government for their inclusion in Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small & Medium Towns (UIDSSMT). The 40 towns that have been selected to be included in UIDSSMT are Batala, Gurdaspur, Majitha, Pathankot, Patti and Tarn Taran Of Amritsar Region, Bathinda, Malout, Mansa and Gidderbaha of Bathinda Region, Abohar, Faridlkot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga and Zira of Ferozepur Region, Barnala, Banur, Dera Bassi, Malerkotla, Patiala,Rajpura, Sangrur and Zirakpur of Patiala Region, Khanna, Kharar,Mandi Gobindgarh, Nangal, Ropar and Sirhind of Ludhiana Region, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawan Shahar, Phagwara, Adampur,
Shahkot, Nakodar and Kartarpur of Jalandhar Region.
In another initiative a British company has been approached to setup a solid waste treatment plant near Ludhiana at the cost of Rs. 3000 crore to tackle the solid waste disposal problems of all Urban Areas of Punjab. The Company would set up state wide network of collection centres and Central Waste Processing Plant to produce energy from the solid waste.

All the initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal are aimed at transforming Urban Infrastructure to meet the requirements of increased economic activities in the Urban Areas with a vision of next 50 years. With all these urban areas of Punjab for all set to witness a new era of transformation putting Punjab on path of accelerated developments.