Ludhiana Metro awaits Center’s viability gap

funding nod- Sukhbir

Punjab to become first state to launch air conditioned bus service

Punjab Deputy Chief Minster Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that crucial project of Ludhiana Metro was awaiting the Union government’s consent for finance viability gap funding.

Addressing media persons after inaugurating Rs. 23.15 crore Gill Chowk flyover and laying the foundation stone of Rs. 23.45 crore Partap Chowk flyover and Rs. 1.30 crore broadening as well as beautification project of Sherpur chowk to Military camp road, Mr. Badal said that the detailed project report of the Ludhiana metro pegged its cost at Rs 9000 crore with construction cost of Rs 200 crore per KM.

He said that Punjab Government sent a communiqué to Union Government requesting it to treat Ludhiana city as the special case to fund viability gap on the pattern of Delhi Metro. He said that the ‘Manchester’ of India with more than 27000 medium and small scale industries was providing employment to lakhs of migrant people who have to commute intra- city and with adjoining industrial town like Mandi Gobindgarh and Khanna. He said that it becomes imperative for the Union government to adopt this project in nation’s interest.

He informed that the Pun jab was set to become first state of the country having air-conditioned city bus service in all five Municipal Corporations namely Ludhiana, Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Patiala as required arrangements have been made to launch this bus service from December this year. He said that at the first stage there would be a fleet 60 world class busses besides 150 low floor buses which would be further extended as per the needs of particular city.

Later addressing an impressive gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated the firm commitment of the State government to upgrade as well as strengthened the urban infrastructure in all urban areas. Mr. Badal revealed that the SAD-BJP government in its last three and half years tenure have already initiated projects of worth Rs 1000 crore in Ludhiana city alone of which several projects have already been completed while the others were approaching completion.

He promised that Partap Chowk fly over would be completed before 15th May 2011 and similarly, the under construction ROB at Lakkar Bridge point would be completed by 15th April 2011. Mr. Badal expressed confidence that these flyovers would play a significant role in decongesting the heart of city. He said with the concerted efforts of the State government 17 ROBs / RUBs would be inaugurated in the year 2010-2011 whereas year 2012 would witness completion of another 18 ROBs. He said that the State government was in the process of approving more projects of worth Rs 1500 crore for Ludhiana by next month.

Reiterating his promise to make Punjab a power surplus state within next two years, Mr. Badal said that besides four new thermal plants set to generate additional 6500 MW power, Punjab was all set to produce 2000 MW from Non Renewable sources. Congratulating Ludhianavis’ for initiation of flights from local domestic airport, Mr. Badal said that with the augmentation of Three International Airports including Raja Sansi Amritsar, Mohali and Green field Airport at Machiwara besides starting of domestic flights from Ludhiana, Pathankot and Bathinda, Industry and Trade of Punjab especially of Ludhiana to get big boost. He revealed that number of Air lines have approached the State government for commencing their domestic flights from Ludhiana.

Reiterating the commitment of Punjab Government to provide potable drinking water to every citizen of the state by the year 2012, Mr. Badal said that besides Municipal water supply each city must have 30 RO plants. Municipal Corporation would run these plants on BOT basis and RO treated water would be available to the citizens at the rate of 10 paisa per liter.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Manoranjan Kalia Local Bodies and Industries Minister gave a brief outline of the State government’s integrated comprehensive urban development plan for all urban areas. He informed that this was aimed to rejuvenate all components of Urban Development including up-gradation of Road Infrastructure, Sewerage and Water supply network, Strengthening of Power Transmission Network, Solid Waste management, beautification of entrances and other important places besides landscaping of gardens, replacing the street lights with LED lights and efficient Traffic management. On this occasion he also promised to scrap the condition of No Objection Certificate from Municipal Corporation for new electricity connections for industrial purpose.

Earlier Mr. Hira Singh Gabria Jails, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister and expressed his gratitude for granting projects of  worth Rs thousands of crores for Ludhiana.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Mr. Sat Pal Gosian Deputy Speaker, Mr. Bikramjit Singh Khalsa CPS, Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik and Mr. Harish Bedi (both MLAs), Mr. Rajinder Bhandari Deputy Chairman Planning Board Punjab and Mr. Hakam Singh Gyaspura Mayor MC.

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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB

ALL CITIES IN PUNJAB TO HAVE RO SYSTEM IN EVERY WARD – SUKHBIR

• FIRST PHASE TO COVER FIVE CORPORATION TOWNS
• URBAN RENEWAL PACKAGE FOR AMRITSAR IN OFFING
• PUNJAB DIVIDED INTO EIGHT CLUSTERS FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Chandigarh, May 25:

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal ,Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today announced an ambitious pan Punjab project to provide clean portable water to all cities in Punjab under which Reverse Osmosis System (ROs) would be installed in every Municipal Ward of all cities. 

Speaking to the media after dedicating to the people o Punjab the life line project of Elevated Road worth Rs. 223 crores and laying the foundation stone of covering the “Ganda Nala” by spending Rs. 10.34 crores, Mr. Badal said that under the first phase Five Corporation towns would be covered by RO System to provide bottled RO treated water @ 0.10 paise per liter. He said that RO system had been a great success in the difficult villages of Malwa , Doaba and Majha and over 400 villages have already been covered under this.

Promising to change the face of Holy city Amritsar within next one year Mr. Badal said that besides completing projects worth Rs. 523 crores during last three years, Amritsar would soon have a gift of Rs. 600 crore urban renewal package. He said that under the renewal package long term and short term projects for improving the civic amenities of Amritsar city and its adjoining towns and mandies would focus on rejuvenating sewage disposal network and water supply network of Amrtisar and adjoining cities like Ajnala, Tarantaran, Majitha etc.

He said that focus was to start all these works after making provisions for the funds so that they could be completed within next 18 months, Mr. Badal said that the proposed package would include improvement of roads water supply and sewerage network in outer wards of Amritsar, improving and expanding existing road to Bhandari Bridge to six lane, making every entry point of the city Eight Lane, besides beautification of 12 historical gates, installation of LED street lights , central verge and plantation.

Mr. Badal said that after concerted efforts that Elevated Road from Makhmulpura to Bhandari Bridge covering 3.25 Km has been thrown open to traffic. He said that remaining 0.9 Km stretch from Ramtalai Chowk to Golden Temple besides upper ramp opposite Burge Baba Phoola Singh with multilevel car parking at Phawara Chowk at the cost of Rs. 50 crores would be completed by December this year. He congratulated the people of Amritsar for having widest urban elevated road on single pier in India.

Announcing the launch of first ever Air-conditioned city bus service in the Holy City Amritsar, Mr. Badal said that 80 local buses would run on the roads of Amritsar in the month of December this year. Mr. Badal said that they had kept the provision of 25 crores last year for the bus service but it could not be started due to stay from the High Court.

Promising to upgrade the infrastructure of urban areas Mr. Badal said that during last three years Ludhiana got projects worth Rs. 1500 crore whereas Jalandhar was given Rs. 800 crore projects. He said that with the inauguration of 17 ROBs by June next year, all traffic bottle necks on the highways would vanish .

Emphasizing on strengthening power transmission network Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government was spending Rs. 650 crores for installing 30 power houses of 220 KVA and 100 power houses of 60 KVA. He said that with the inauguration of these besides Thermal plants, Punjab was all set to get un--interrupted power for 24 hours.

Giving the details of solid waste management project Mr. Badal said that Punjab has been divided into eight clusters including Amritsar, Jallandhar, Bathinda, Patiala, Ludhiana , Ferozepur , Gamada and land for five cities have already been acquired and door to door collection of solid waste would began in June 11.

Earlier in the day MR. Sukhbir Badal accompanied by Industry Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Local MP Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu and Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha unveiled the plaque inaugurating Rs. 223 crore elevated road project. Later in a day Mr. Badal also laid the foundation stone of Rs. 10.3 crore project to cover stinking “Ganda Nala”.

Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion were Dr. RattanSingh Ajnala, Member Parliament, Prof. Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike (both cabinet Ministers of Punjab), Mr. Amarpal Singh Boni, Mr. Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Mr. Anil Joshi ( all MLAs), Dr. Baldev Raja Chawla, Chairman Water Supply and Sewrage Board Punjab, Mr. Vir Singh Lopoke, Chairman Distt. Planning Committee, Er. Shwait Malik Mayor, Mr. Ajaybir Pal Singh, Sr. Deputy Mayor, Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu, Deputy Commissioner, Mr. DPS Kharbanda, Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Mr. Varinder Kumar, Commissioner Police and a host of other dignitaries.

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IPS Ishwar Chander promoted

Chandigarh, May 25,

Mr. Ishwar Chander IPS of (1991 batch) DIG/Admn. PAP, Jalandhar promoted to the rank of Inspector General of Police in the Pay Scale of Rs. 37400-67000 plus Grade Pay Rs. 10000 with immediate effect.

This was disclosed by a spokesman of the Punjab Government here today.

No. PR-2010/200

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