Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today fixed deadlines for various key development projects in Amritsar besides announcing to run amphibious buses at Harike wetland in the first week of June vis-à-vis inauguration of first of its own kind Interpretation Center at Sri Darbar Sahib in July end.Presiding over a meeting to review the status of ongoing development projects, Mr. Badal accompanied by local bodies minister Mr. Anil Joshi, revenue minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, tourism and cultural affairs minister Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, chief parliamentary secretary Mrs. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, mayor Mr. Bakshi Ram Arora and senior officers of departments concerned, has fixed timelines of major key projects. He also asked the authorities to ensure that there should be no time overrun in these projects and all works should be accomplished within the given deadlines.
Mr. Badal also announced that the dream project of Punjab government to launch amphibious buses to be run in water bodies was near to be a reality. He said to promotion of water tourism in the state such dual mode buses with an ability to run both on water and land will be introduced in May end at Harike wetlands. He said that in its first phase maiden bus will run between Amritsar and Harike via Tarn Taran facilitating domestic and international tourists. It was also informed in the meeting that tenders in this regard have been floated, which was awarded to world renowned Swedish automotive company 'Scania'.After viewing a presentation of under progress unique Interpretation Center at Sri Darbar Sahib here, Mr. Badal also asked that executing agency to complete the work before July end as this centre will be dedicated to the countrymen and foreign tourists in the first week of August this. It was informed in the meeting that Interpretation Center will work as digital encyclopedia showcasing various aspects of Sikhism.
Reviewing the status of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) to be developed in the city at a cost of Rs. 500 crore, Mr. Badal informed that BRTS system will also become operational in the holy city from June 1, 2016. He also directed the executing agency and department concerned engaged in the execution of this prestigious project not only to expedite the pace of work but also to finish construction of service lanes along side dedicated bus tracks within a month. He also directed departments concerned to finalise the purchase of buses at the earliest under BRTS.On the issue of city buses, the Deputy CM directed transport department and deputy commissioner Mr. Varun Roojam to prepare an exclusive detailed route plan for plying of these passenger buses from Amritar to Attari border for the facilitation of thousands of daily tourists visiting for retreat ceremony on Indo-Pak border. He also issued instructions to increase the fleet of these buses. He said that this route plan will be executed in two months.
Announcing that Punjab government is going to dedicate "Urban Haat" to the countrymen on this Baisakhi, Mr. Badal said work on this project has almost completed and will prove a boon for the tourists visiting the holy city from across the globe. He said that Punjab’s, especially that of Amritsar’s, delicacies were renowned world over, so this place would emerge as a favorite destination for the food lovers coming to this city. He informed that Urban Haat was spread over 9.5 acres and developed at a cost of Rs. 9 Crore.Asking commissioner municipalcorporation to put the ongoing work of landscaping and beautification on fast track, Mr. Badal said that the city will witness complete landscaping and beautification by the end of May this.
Reviewing the status of Sewerage work in North, South and South-East zone of holy city, Mr. Badal also directed the company concerned and Punjab water supply and sewerage board to accomplish the task in the end of May besides making project operational in first week of June. It was informed in the meeting that in North segment more than 4700 sewerage connections have been released while the remaining 6000 would be given before June.Prominent among those present in the meeting included principal secretary to Deputy CM Mr. P.S. Aujla, secretary power Mr. A. Venu Prasad, secretary local government Mr. Vikas Partap Singh, director tourism Mr. NPS Randhawa, deputy commissioner Mr. Varun Roojam, commissioner municipal corporation Mr. Pardeep Sabharwal.