“Selection of Ludhiana, an industrial hub, in the first list of coveted Smart City Project is the result of the tireless and development-oriented efforts of the Punjab Government.” Disclosing this here today, the Punjab Irrigation Minister Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said that this feather in the cap would only be achieved with the personal initiative of the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.Dhillon said that after scaling this height, the state is accelerating for the selection of other cities in this project. He said that Punjab Government has given a face-lift to Ludhiana through various development for e.g. Improving sewerage system under HUDCO at a cost of Rs. 150 crore, Construction of roads alongside Budha Nullah at a cost of Rs. 13 crore, Up-gradation of Sewerage Treatment Plants at a cost of Rs. 100 crore, constructing 4,832 dwelling units and operating 105 city buses.
He also said that under this project, selected cities would get monetary assistance of Rs. 200 Crore each in first year while during course of next 3 years financial assistance of Rs. 100 per year would be given to each city for carrying out infrastructural and developmental projects and same amount would be contributed by state government.Irrigation Minister said that this would inculcate a sense of healthy competitiveness amongst cities bringing up gradation of infrastructure, Swachh Bharat and other issues related to public good into sharp focus.He lauds the efforts of district administration, people of the district and non-government organisations, who presented the positive sides of the industrial city for its selection in the Smart City Project.