Continuing its glorious march towards having a world class urban infrastructure, Punjab today became witness to another milestone by opening its first of its kind busopolis in India. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal here today inaugurated and dedicated to public ‘Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Inter State Bus Terminus’ (ISBT). He also inaugurated Transport Bhawan, Transport Safety Bhawan and Excise and Taxation Bhawan in the town.Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister disclosed that this fully air conditioned multi-crore ISBT have been constructed at a cost of Rs 300 crore and equipped with all the modern state-of-the-art facilities such as Wi-Fi, ATM, online ticketing and other basic facilities for the ease of public. Describing it as India's first model bus terminus, he divulged that this ISBT can be favourably compared with any of its kind around the globe.
S. Badal also said this ISBT would showcase Punjab as a leader in providing and strengthening infrastructure. He further added that this model of ISBT would be replicated in all the corporation towns of the state. He also informed that 1900 buses would ply daily from this ISBT.Making more development centric announcements, S. Badal said the foundation stone of 6 lane Kharar-Ludhiana expressway and 4 laning of Ropar-Phagwara road would be laid on December 19 whereas 4 lane elevated road from Mohali to Kharar would be completed in one and half year. He also declared that Mohali to Patiala via Sirhind road would also be upgraded as 4 lane expressway.
Interacting with the media-persons on the occasion, S. Badal took potshots at both Congress and AAP and said the PPCC President Captain Amarinder Singh is suddenly exhibiting love for Punjab and meeting PM for issues concerning the state but where was Captain earlier and why didn’t he showed this concern during the previous years? The Deputy Chief Minister said Captain is doing all this with an eye on Punjab assembly elections and his new posturing is nothing but a political stunt.Taking on Arvind Kejriwal, the Deputy CM described both Congress and AAP as part of the same stock who have a tacit understanding to contest assembly elections as a friendly match. S. Badal further elaborated that Kejriwal only concentrates on holding rallies in Jalalabad and Majitha constituencies while never ever bothering to hold a gathering in the constituency of Captain Amarinder Singh which proves that AAP has an unholy alliance with congress.Among others present on the occasion included ex-MLA Ujagar Singh Badali, Adviser to Deputy CM Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM PS Aujla, Special Principal Secretary Rahul Tewari, STC Ashwani Kumar Sharma, DC Daljit Singh Mangat, Chairperson State Women Commission Bibi Paramjit Kaur Landran, SAD urban district president Parmjit Singh Kahlon, MC President Kulwant Singh and others.