The Industrial City of Ludhiana today got a major boost with Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today approved Rs. 2499.74 crore, first phase plan to upgrade its infrastructure to meet the challenge of accelerated growth and increasing population of this city.Presiding over a marathon meeting in which Bhagat Chuni Lal, Local Government Minister, Secretaries of all infrastructure departments besides senior officers of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation were present, the Deputy Chief Minister made a threadbare review of all projects piding into different phases, ensuring their completion within next three years. Approving Rs. 322.39 crore plan for 100% sewerage system, 100% 24X7 water supply coverage, augmentation of series of sewerage treatment plant, cleaning of existing main sewer line with super suction machines and turnkey maintenance contract of total system, Sukhbir said that there would be no compromise on the quality of execution of work and international infrastructure companies should be engaged in the project. Badal instructed that STP at village Jamalpur, Bhattian and Balloke should be completed at the earliest. He also Municipal Corporation to provide mandatory water and sewerage connection to every inhabitation.
Approving the plan drawn for upgradation of road and transportation at the cost of Rs. 1352.20 crore, the Deputy Chief Minister said that 8 laning of Ferozepur Road from Sidhwan Canal to MC limit, development of missing links, construction of RUB near Lodhi Club and ROB in lieu of Lakkar Bazaar put on fast track. Sukhbir also approved construction of underpasses at Bharat Nagar Chowk, Bhai Bala Chowk, Malhar T-junction for safety of pedestrian. Expressing concern over pollution caused by Buddah Nullah, Sukhbir approved Rs. 110 crore for rejuvenation. He also released Rs. 398.35 crore for upgradation of Hambra Road from Court Chowk to MC limit, remodelling of Fountain Chowk, upgradation of Pakhowal Road and construction of ROB on it, upgradation of Malhar Road, construction of Parking complex in Feroze Gandhi Market and Mata Rani Chowk.
Approving Rs. 242.80 crore for second phase of road upgradation, Sukhbir said that the focus of second phase would be on upgradation of Chandigarh Road from Samrala Chowk to MC limit, construction of underpasses at Vardhman Chowk and Jamaalpur Chowk, upgradation of link road from Bharat Nagar chowk to Samrala, construction of flyover at Cheema chowk, upgradation of Gill Road from Vishawakarma Chowk, upgradation of old GT Road Sherpupr Chowk to Jalandhar byepass, upgradation of widening of Rahon Road, Ishmeet Road, Dugri Road and Construction of ROB at Dana Mandi. Sukhbir also approved Rs. 600 crore for upgradation of 164 kilometer small internal roads.
Emphasising on robotic parking system, Sukhbir also approved parking system automated mechanised parking system for Chaura Bazaar, Kotwali, Old Court Complex, Ghumar Mandi, DMCH, Model Town, BBMB power house, Samrala Chowk, Shimlapuri, MC limit Rahon Road and Indira Colony and asked Commissioner Rakesh Verma to invite international companies to construct these parking slots. Rs. 128.3 crore was sanctioned for this parking project. The Deputy Chief Minister also approved the construction of 31 Foot Over Bridges and Foot Under Bridges to be constructed at the cost of Rs. 86 crore at high density traffic zones to facilitate the movement of pedestrian. It was decided that an MoU would be signed with Turkish Company managing cleanliness of Lahore for Ludhiana and Rs. 71 crore was sanctioned for modernisation of slaughter house, development of dairy complex, mechanised sweeping and washing of important roads and integerated solid waste management plants.
Expressing concern over increasing personal transport in Ludhiana choking every road, Badal asked to MC to add a fleet of 160 low floor buses including 40 AC buses to the existing fleet of 50 to improve the public transport system. Sukhbir also approved outdoor advertisement and street furniture plan drawn as per new advertising policy of the MC. It was decided to replace all 1 lakh street light points with LED lights within one year on ESCO model that would save current energy bill of 27 crore per year. The Deputy CM asked the MC to explore the possibility of engaging horticulture experts of PAU for landscaping 771 small parks, Rose Garden, Rakh Bagh, Children Park, Leisure Valley and Mini Rose Garden.Asking Commissioner Municipal Corporation Ludhiana to put up a plan for construction of 20000 flats for slum dwellers and labourers, Badal approved construction of 4832 houses for slum dwellers to be constructed at the cost of Rs. 33.5 crore. It was informed that 1600 houses were ready for possession and Sukhbir would himself hand over the keys to slum dwellers on August 15, 2013.
Prominent amongst those were present in the meeting included Bhagat Chuni Lal, Local Government Minister, Mayor Ludhiana Harcharan Singh Gohalvaria, S.K. Sandhu, Principal Secretary to CM, Ashok Gupta, Secretary Local Government, A.Venu Prasad, Secretary Urban Development, Anurag Aggarwal, MD PIDB, P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Gagandeep Singh Brar, Special Principal Secretary to CM, Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Ajay Kumar Mahajan, both Special Principal Secretary to Deputy CM.