The Local Government and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu has termed the budget presented today by the Finance Minister as development centric, pro-people and futuristic. The minister also thanked the Chief Minister and Finance Minister for according priority to the Local Government and Tourism sectors.In a statement here today, Mr. Sidhu said that the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh has boosted the morale and put a stamp of approval on the path breaking initiatives being taken in Local Government and Tourism Departments during his speech yesterday on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address. He also lauded the Finance Minister for allocating funds in ample measure to the Local Government and Tourism Departments.The minister also disclosed that it is first time in the history of Punjab that Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department has been accorded a special place.
He further elaborated that the Finance Minister has earmarked Rs.26 crore for preservation of glorious culture of Punjab, Tourist facilities and the face-lifting of museums. Similarly, a sum of Rs. 7 crore has been kept for the revival of heritage festivals which were neglected by the previous government. Not only this but Rs. 5 crore have been allocated for marketing of tourism sector, attracting tourists and most important of all, inspiring NRI Punjabis to visit their home state. A sum of Rs. 3 crore has been earmarked for multi-purpose project on sacred vein river.Divulging more, Mr. Sidhu said that the amount of Rs. 2268.18 crore released previous year for the development of urban areas has now been doubled to Rs. 4610.59 crore which accounts for 103.27 percent increase. The 4 premier cities of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala would be transformed into smart cities. The announcements made today included easing CLU procedure, Low cost LED lights in cities, addressing the problem pertaining to parking of vehicles by constructing a multi-level parking.