Shapoorji Pallonji group evinced interest in developing and maintaining complete civic amenities in both corporation cities and smaller towns, partnering with PUDA to build group housing besides establishment of a mega solar park following suggestions made by Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here today.The Shapoorji Pallonji delegation led by Shapoorji P Mistry besides others also expressed interest in the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) planned for Amritsar city besides agreeing to construct mass housing for the economically weaker sections across the State.Briefing the delegation about the opportunities available for investment in Punjab, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said he believed in holistic development of cities in the State and that the State government was envisaging giving the complete development and maintenance of sewerage, water supply and road network in a city or town to one company. He said under this plan, the company concerned, would not only create the infrastructure but also maintain it for a ten year period.’
The Deputy CM said besides outsourcing maintenance of all civic infrastructures to private companies in the four corporation cities, the government was keen that companies take up development and maintenance of civic infrastructure in all 140 towns in the State in the next three years.Mr Badal also briefed the delegation that it could participate in the bidding process for group housing projects being taken up by PUDA (Punjab Urban Development Authority). He said the agency was in the process of inviting bids for construction of 900 flats at Ludhiana and 700 flats at Bathinda. Mr Mistry requested that the projects could be offered to investors by following the Swiss Challenge mode, saying his company wanted to take them up from the design. He also agreed to construct group housing for economically backward sections after Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said the State government had decided to construct one lakh affordable houses.
The Deputy CM also mooted a proposal to the group to establish a 10,000 mega watt mega solar park, saying the government was ready for a unique partnership to make it possible. “We pay an Rs 6,000 crore subsidy to Powercom as part of free power given to farmers for tube well operations. We can evolve a mechanism whereby you can supply power to farmers and be paid for the same”, The Deputy CM said this was a win win situation for both the State and the company as after a few years the State subsidy bill would start reducing once the investment cost was realized.Mr Mistry lauded the Deputy CM for his visionary idea and said his company would be keen to establish the solar park as it had more than 25 years of experience in establishment solar parks. Calling the Shapoorji group to invest in world class exhibition and conventional centers to be built in Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar having ultra modern facilities, the Deputy CM said that the first exhibition centre would be set up at Mohali, near International Airport in 50 acres with the estimated cost of Rs 235 crore.
Downtown projects in Ludhiana and Mohali were also took the centre stage during the talks, in which Mr. Badal told them that Punjab was also all set to establish downtown in Mohali in 80 acres and 31 acres in Ludhiana.“The proposed downtown places are generation-next concept that will provide all basic amenities and common facilities to the citizens”, said Mr Badal.Prominent amongst others present in the meeting included CPS Sarup Chand Singla, Principal Secretary Transport S.S. Channy, K.A. Singh Principal Secretary Industry, A. Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary Housing, D.P. Reddy Principal Secretary Finance, Anuridh Tiwari Principal Secretary Power, P.S. Aulja Principal Secretary to Deputy CM Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Ajay Mahajan Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy CM.