Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that a first of its kind high speed access controlled expressway of 450 kilometres from Amritsar to New Delhi will soon be a reality as the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways had agreed in principle for upgradation and strengthening of the old grand trunk road NH-1.Deputy Chief Minister was announcing his vision for making Punjab numero uno in all spheres at an award function held here today honour achievers in various fields. He disclosed that meeting in this regard would be held within this month with concerned officers for acquisition of land and tendering process so that this 20,000 crore project comes to fruition in the shortest possible time.
Disclosing more, S. Badal said that state government is paying special attention to the inclusive development of state and very soon the roads across the state would be transformed into 4-6 lane expressways. He also said the road from Mohali to Kharar would be given the elevated shape besides work on major expressways connecting with corporation towns would be launched soon.
Making a pitch for holistic development, S. Badal said every village, hospital and school of the state would be equipped with the 4G connectivity by 15th January next and Punjab would be the only state in the country to achieve this feat. He further disclosed that the e-governance initiatives of the state have been recognized by the Union Government which has bestowed e-governance and e-district award on the state.Announcing more, Mr Badal said within the span of 6 months the Punjab Government would go paperless and all the business would go online. He added that by April 1st, 2016 there would be 2174 sewa kendars after a cluster of 4-5 villages and people would get 200 services at one centralized place. He added that the state government would to provide 100 percent water supply and sewerage facilities to all towns of the state.
Listing out the achievements of the state government, S. Badal informed that the government had established a centralized office of CEO Invest Punjab from where all the necessary clearances could be taken within 30 days to start new business ventures in the state. He said that now, the businessmen desirous of investing in Punjab would not have to beeline for 23 departments to take required permissions. He elaborated that since the formation of Invest Punjab, 200 companies have invested Rs. 60,000 crore in the state.He said the state has now become power surplus with the investments worth Rs. 30,000 crore being made in the sector. Divulging about other fields, he said in New Chandigarh, biggest medicity is being developed where the King’s college London would build an institution besides big names like - Max and Apollo also setting up their medical ventures there. He also said the development of Mohali as biggest IT hub would raise the bar further for progress.
Speaking on the occasion, Revenue and Renewable Energy Minister, Punjab, S. Bikram Singh Majithia said the problem of pollution is assuming alarming proportions with each passing day but the Punjab Government through harnessing clean and green energy, is successful in tackling it. He said that when the state government took over in 2012, the solar power capacity was only 9 MW which has now gone up to 1550 MW for which the Union Government has even awarded the state.Disclosing more, he said the state government has been successful in attracting investments worth Rs. 12000 crore in the solar power sector. Furthermore, this success story has resulted in direct and indirect employment to 10000 people. Among others present in the function included media advisor to CM Harcharn Bains, media advisor to Deputy CM Jangveer Singh, special principal secretaries to Deputy CM Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Rahul Tewari.