Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said deeds always spoke louder than words and that the self evident development of this holy city would put an end to all false propaganda. The Punjab government has formulated a master plan of Rs. 2000 crore to refurbish the holy city of Amritsar by 2016 and various development projects are being initiated according to the plan envisaged for the city. Stating this here today after paying obeisance at Golden Temple, Mr. Badal said that another set of welfare projects worth Rs. 500 crore towards transforming the walled city, keeping intact its originality, would be in progress. In near future Amritsar will proudly showcase its state of art sports stadiums, flyovers, 100% sewerage renewal, complete rural lighting, BRTS, world class solid waste management system and much more, he said. Mr. Badal proudly announced that Amritsar would be the first safe city of the State, completely equipped with CCTV surveillance and modern age technology. Reviewing the progress of underground plaza being constructed near Golden Temple Complex, Mr. Badal said that the underground plaza would be ready by Diwali this year and all the remaining works would also be completed on priority.
The Deputy CM, who paid obeisance at Darbar Sahab and participated in the Bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib, made this comment during an interaction with newsmen while reviewing progress of underground plaza being constructed near Golden Temple.Mr Sukhbir Badal while replying to questions regarding development raised by the Amritsar mp said he did not need to give any clarification regarding development of Amritsar as the reality was self evident to everybody. "I am absolutely satisfied with the pace at which development works are being conducted in Amritsar and am sure the face of the city itself will be changed once the Rs 2,000 crore master plan is implemented by 2016", he added.Mr Badal said he was working with the mission of transforming the holy city into one of the most beautiful cities of India and would not rest in peace till the transformation is achieved. "In near future Amritsar will proudly showcase its state of art sports stadiums, flyovers, 100% sewerage renewal, complete rural lighting, BRTS, world class solid waste management system and much more", he added.He informed that in the coming two months another set of projects worth Rs. 500 crore would be started people would soon reap the benefits of the projects. He also announced that Amritsar would be the first safe city of the State, completely equipped with CCTV surveillance and modern age technology. He informed that the entry points to the city would be beautified by the construction of specially designed dome shaped gates which would keep in tune with the religious tourism of the city, exude an element of spirituality.
The Deputy CM, who was accompanied by Mr Anil Joshi, Cabinet Minister Punjab, Mr. Bakshi Ram Arora, Mayor and BJP leader Mr. Tarun Chug, also laid the foundation stone of multi crore projects including Rs. 12.80 crore project of replacement of decades old water pipes in Katra Sant Singh area of the old city, Rs. 5 crore project of CC Flooring in Katra Ahluwalia Area and Rs. 7.39 crore gateway project for the construction of entrance gate on Amritsar-Jalandhar road.
Answering a query pertaining to the economic scenario in Punjab, Mr. Badal said that a wrong impression is being created on this front and the media is being misled. He informed that the status of the economy can be adjudged by the debt to GDP ratio and added that the said ratio was 46% when the alliance took over in its previous tenure and it has now been successfully brought down by the concerted efforts to 32% whereas it is 68% at centre level. He claimed that if any economic crisis in prevailing then it is at the level of Centre Government and not in Punjab. Similarly, refuting all claims he informed that e-trip is successfully running throughout the State since September 1. He also expressed remorse at the recent deaths in Muzaffarnagar and strongly condemned violence.
Replying to yet another query pertaining to swapping of Amritsar Parliamentary seat, Mr. Badal said that the decision in this regard rests solely with BJP and in case they decide so and approach Shiromani Akali Dal, its only then that SAD can consider the proposal. Dispelling the doubts pertaining to development of Amritsar via cash starved Municipal Corporation; Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that many changes are on way in the working of Municipal Corporation including complete computerization. He said in the coming two years the Amritsar Municipal Corporation would be transformed into a cash surplus corporation with ample cash flow for all its activities.