The Punjab Government has initiated several measures to boost urban and rural development, as well connectivity in the state, along with culture, tourism and sports.Disclosing some of these measures in the House on Monday, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said he had taken up the issue of connecting the four district towns of Mansa, Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka and Ferozepur with 4/6 lane national highways with the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.The government will endeavor to ensure completion of upgradation of national highways being undertaken by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and to connect all district headquarters with 4 or 6 lane connectivity, said Captain Amarinder.Under the World Bank assisted project, we will complete the upgradation of selected roads to the tune of Rs. 315 crore, he said, adding that another over Rs. 100 crore would be spent on Road Safety measures in the state.The Chief Minister said he had also written to the Union Railways Minister for providing rail connectivity between Patti and Makhu which will connect Majha region directly with Malwa and then with Rajasthan. Further, rail connectivity between Rajpura and Chandigarh, which has been a long pending demand of the local populace was already being explored and the government would provide full assistance to the Railways in finalization of alignment and acquisition of land for the project.Captain Amarinder informed the House that his government had recently signed a MoU with Ministry of Civil Aviation for implementing the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN.
This will provide air connectivity to four airports in Punjab, i.e. Bathinda, Ludhiana, Pathankot and Adampur with Delhi. Further, he said, construction of the Aeronautical Engineering College at Patiala will be completed this year which will further enhance the scope of civil aviation activities in the state. The Government is already in the process of acquiring additional land for expansion of the international airport at Mohali. A project for the upgradation of its runway is being initiated by the Indian Air Force to foster greater international connectivity using long haul flights.The government will ensure that construction of buildings of 5 Judicial Court Complexes, 3 District Administrative Complexes, Government Colleges and other departmental works are completed on time, by March 31st 2018. Referring to rural development and PRIs, the Chief Minister said the government was working on a new scheme focused on more focused and targeted delivery of benefits under various Government schemes to the distressed populations. The government will also re-double its efforts for effective implementation of MNREGA in the State to the deserving population, he added.He announced his government’s decision to introduce e-tendering for the annual auction of Panchayat lands thereby ensuring that the revenues of the Panchayats are not compromised through fraudulent auctions, as was being done during the previous regime.The government will give priority to the housing needs of the rural poor by providing housing to more than 30,000 beneficiaries this year. The scheme will be implemented in more systematic way by formulating a time schedule so that all those deserving people are benefitted out of this scheme, he said.The Chief Minister further announced his government’s decision to prepare Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP) in all 13,000 panchayats in the state, based on ground level planning which will ensure that the infrastructure works are sanctioned as per the deserving needs at the village level.
Besides development of Amritsar and Jalandhar also as Smart Cities, apart from Ludhiana, Captain Amarinder promised greater thrust to providing piped drinking water and clean toilets in all households, as well as 100% sewerage connections in all municipal towns of the State to ensure effective management and disposal of solid and liquid waste in all municipal towns of the state.Citing other measures for housing and urban development, the Chief Minister said apart from RERA implementation, the government had decided to simplify and streamline the State legislations including PUDA Act, PAPRA Act and the rules and regulations made there under to remove bottlenecks in development of real estate, both concerning housing and others sectors.On the pattern of Invest Punjab, a single window clearance system would be initiated as a One-stop Shop called 'Build Punjab'.The Department of Housing and Urban Development is working on a new integrated system of project approvals whereby all the developers, promoters, etc. would be required to pay a single charge called Planning Approval Fee which shall cover the existing charges of EDC, CLU, Processing Fee, etc.
A Cabinet sub-committee has been constituted to suggest simplification of process and procedures under PAPRA as also a single planning approval fee to be charged, said the Chief Minister.Besides greater emphasis on promotion of traditional sports like Hockey and Kabaddi, the Chief Minister said his government would increase awards and incentives for the players to encourage and prepare them for international events such as Olympics, Asian games, Commonwealth Games. A sports university would also be set up at Patiala. A special initiative would be taken to set up sports parks in rural areas.On the promotion of tourism and culture, the Chief Minister said the government proposed to come out with a dynamic Cultural Policy. It will also work towards preserving forts and architectural heritage, as well as medival structures and sarais. He also announced resumption of Heritage Festivals, beginning with the Chandigarh Literary Festival, and commemoration event for the Battle of Saragarhi. The tourism promotion will lead to employment generation, he added, saying the government’s motto would be - Punjab da Sabhayachar, Ghar Ghar Rozgar.Among other key announcements made by the Chief Minister was a commitment to take the process of regularization of contractual employees to a logical conclusion in a legitimate manner and redressal of disparities in pay scales.He also reiterated his government’s commitment to the welfare of NRIs and defense personnel and listed out the various steps taken so far in this direction.