"The Punjab Government as envisaged by the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh is according top priority to the all round development of cities with special thrust on the concept of 'Smart Cities' and radically transforming the infrastructure to provide quality living to the people."Disclosing this here today at a meeting to take stock of the smart cities project with Amritsar being the focus of attention, the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that a total of Rs. 1000 crore projects are underway in accordance with the smart cities concept out of which a provision of Rs. 500 crores has been made in the recent state budget with regard to the development of smart cities and the same amount would be contributed by the Union Government. The minister further said that it is the present government led by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh which has devoted such minute attention to the smart cities concept which has seen works getting kickstarted in the cities of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.Lashing out at the previous SAD-BJP regime, the minister disclosed that the previous government was not serious about smart city projects which is evident from their spending a meager Rs. 32 crore from the state share of Rs. 200 crore.
It is the present government which has considered it an article of faith to specially focus on giving wings to the smart city concept thus leading to 'Smart Transformation' of urban infrastructure in the state.Coming to the projects concerning Amritsar, Mr. Sidhu divulged that as part of the initial phase to transform the city infrastructure, projects worth Rs. 50 crores would be initiated keeping development of multi level car parking (MLCP) at Kairon Market with provision of 500 cars thus easing traffic snarls besides other aspects such as CCTVs, Development of Parks, Smart Roads and Street Lighting. He further elaborated that 5 bridges have been handed over to RITES Company owned by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India for consultancy.The minister reiterated his commitment to lay a solid foundation in the urban development sector on which would be built the robust edifice of smart cities thus propelling Punjab into top league in the business apart from ensuring quality living to the people.On the occasion, MLA (Amritsar West) Mr. Raj Kumar Verka, MLA (Amritsar North) Mr. Sunil Datti, MLA (Amritsar Central) Mr. Om Parkash Soni, Mayor Municipal Corporation Amritsar Mr. Karamjit Singh Rintu, and Chief Executive Officer Amritsar Smart City Ltd. and Chief Administrator Amritsar Development Authority Mrs. Deepti Uppal were also present.