The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal today made a strong pitch for development and disclosed that the SAD-BJP Government has chalked out projects worth Rs. 30000 crore in order to ensure all round development of the entire more than 12000 villages of the state.Addressing an impressive function after laying the foundation stone of Railway Overbridge (ROB) to come up at a cost of Rs. 60 crore in Faridkot and another R.O.B. to be constructed at Kotkapura accruing cost of Rs. 117 crore, the Deputy Chief Minister said that under these projects related to the development of villages, concretization of streets, sewerage, road infrastructure, clean drinking water and other facilities would be provided so as to give the rural areas a facelift. He also said that the developmental projects would come to fruition in next 5 years and Punjab would achieve the distinction of being the first state in the country to effect holistic development of entire rural belt.Divulging more, S. Badal said that the state government would operationalise free medicine shops within next 3 months so as to help the poor sections. Under the scheme, 33 shops would be opened in Faridkot.
He further said that during the 9 year tenure of SAD-BJP government, the state has seen record development in terms of building roads, power production, administrative services and infrastructural facilities besides the implementation of Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna for poor sections, farmers and small traders. Disclosing more, the Deputy Chief Minister said that with the coming up of R.O.B. at Faridkot & Kotkapura, people would get relief from the traffic snarls. He also said that Faridkot R.O.B would be completed in 1 year while the one at Kotkapura would be ready in 1 and a half years time. Giving more details, he said that Rs. 115 crore are being spent on the redressal of sewerage problems in Faridkot. He also said that 46 sewa kendars have been established in the district to ensure hassle free government services to the people.Taking on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), S. Badal said that this party is totally unaware of the glorious culture of Punjab with its main aim not being welfare of the state but only grabbing power to which the people of Punjab would give a befitting reply. He also said that the tenure of Captain Amarinder Singh can be counted amongst the leanest patches in terms of development. Today, Rakesh Pappy assumed charge as Chairman of the Improvement Trust Faridkot in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister.