Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today pledged all support and cooperation to the Chandigarh administration for the overall development and progress of Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab & Haryana as one of the country’s best planned city well equipped with ultra modern facilities and civic amenities for its inhabitants.
Sharing his vision to develop Chandigarh on modern lines as an integral part of tri-city during an event ‘Chandigarh back to future’ to chart city’s future organized by Times of India on its commemoration of 175th anniversary here at JW Marriot, the Chief Minister assured the Punjab Governor and Administrator Union Territory of Chandigarh Mr. Shivraj V Patil to extend all possible assistance and cooperation for the expansion of PGIMER, early completion of the metro rail project and international airport on the top priority. He said the PGIMER was the pioneer medical and research institute committed to provide the best health care facilities not only to the patient of tri-city at affordable rates but also to the people coming from far flung areas of Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister offered land for the expansion of PGIMER so as to enable it to function in a far more meaningful and result oriented manner. He also urged Mr. Patil to lead a delegation including him and his Haryana counterpart to impress upon the Centre to take up the issues of expansion of PGIMER and early completion of Chandigarh Metro Rail project and an international airport without any further delay as these were of paramount importance for the over development of the tri-city. He thanked the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare GoI for opening an extension center of PGIMER at Sangrur to provide better health facilities to the people in the Malwa belt. He also asked the U.T. Administrator to use his good offices in prevailing upon the GoI to further extend the metro rail project which was originally upto Zirakpur in one direction and Mullanpur on the other Kharar, Kurali and Ropar on one side and Banur, Rajpura and Patiala on the other so that the people of these towns could be immensely benefitted due to this comfortable transport facility as a viable alternate to the road journey.
Highlighting the initiatives taken by his government to ensure planned development growth in the region adjoining to Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said the GMADA had already finalize a master plan of Mullanpur, Kurali, Kharar, Zirakpur, Derabassi, Banur to ensure urban development in a holistic manner with the focus on the best road network infrastructure coupled with latest housing facilities and civic amenities of lighting, sewerage and drinking water.
Justifying the recent decision of the state government to rename Mullanpur as new Chandigarh, Mr. Badal said Chandigarh was the brand name of planned development in the tri-city and what was the harm in giving a name “New Chandigarh” to Mullanpur, which was coming up in a big way with a focus on the latest health and educational facilities. He said Edu-city and Medi-city were being developed in New Chandigarh to attract the World class players in the field of medical and health to set up their state-of-the-art hospitals to provide the best healthcare and diagnostic facilities to the people besides schools, colleges and universities to enable our youth to compete globally.
Highly appreciating the acumen and unmatched administrative capacities and capabilities of Mr. Patil, Mr. Badal said that he had no doubts at all that the tri-city especially the Chandigarh would make progress by leaps and bounds under his able stewardship and guidance. He also welcomed the suggestion put forth by Mr. Patil for the expansion of Panjab University, Chandigarh which was one of the premier institutes of higher learning in the country. He also conceded the proposal of Mr. Patil to popularize the concept of solar energy in the upcoming urban development projects as the energy saved from other sources such as hydro and thermal equated to energy generated.
Earlier, the Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator lauded the path breaking initiative taken by Mr. Badal for giving 30% subsidy on solar pumps to the farmers in addition to the subsidy provided by GoI. He urged Mr.Badal and the Chief Minister Haryana Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as major stake holders to ensure urban development under their states’ jurisdiction especially in Mohali and Punchkula to ensure synergy in the integrated and planned development of tri-city. Mr. Patil said that the master plan of Chandigarh was being finalized in the light of emerging needs and requirements of the citizens in the changed scenario, which would be published soon and suggestions thereof from the public invited. Adding he said meaningful and positive suggestions would incorporated in the master plan while the insignificant ones would be rejected.
Meanwhile, the Resident Editor of Times of India Mr. Raja Bose conducted the proceedings of the event on Chandigarh back to future. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Advisor on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharn Bains and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. S.K. Sandhu.