Punjab Cabinet Minister O.P Soni today said that Outer Circular Road commencing from 12 Gates around Wall-City in Amritsar would be developed as Smart Road under Smart City Mission. The project cost of this 7.4 KM long Ring Road would be 125 Crore and the maintenance work would also remain with the concerned company for next five years.After inaugurating the Outer Circular Road, Punjab minister for Medical Education and Research Mr. Soni said that keeping in view of the present condition of the road that was causing traffic jams and the problems being faced by pedestrians due to unauthorised possessions on footpath, the decision was taken to develop this road as Smart Road. He further revealed that the project with cost of Rs. 118.65 Crore would be completed in the next 28 months.The Minister further said that after completion of the road the road would be maintained by the contractor for the next five years and the Marshals would also be deployed so that no unauthorised possession would take place. ``In coming times this road would be the most beautiful road of this historic city, added Mr. Soni.He also said that with the development of this road the tourism would also get booster in the walled city area as the tourists would be able to travel upto Historical Wall city and areas around 12 Gates that will further fillip to the business of shopkeepers in these areas.The lights would be installed on the sides of this road to add beautification and a parking lot would also be constructed to facilitate the travellers and common people as well as this would also play pivotal role in streamlining the traffic``, added the Minister.
On the occasion Smart City CEO Komal Mittal said that this project would be the biggest one in city under Smart City Mission and under this project the sewerage de-silting would also be done along with lying of new sewerage lines as per the requirements.CEO revealed that all electricity wires and other cables would be put underground so that there would be no need for digging the road for lying cable lines in the future. Besides this all the electricity poles and transfers would also be removed and replaced with new Compact Substations. The CEO further said that the Cycle Tracks with width of 1.8 meter would also be constructed on both sides of the road. Besides footpaths for the pedestrians the Parking space for Cycle Rikshaws and auto rikshaws would also be provided with other facilities. Landscaping would also be done for beautification of the road along with installing street furniture, establishing green belt, bus stop shelters,lights, sign board, Digital Advertising boards. The new street vendor zones would also be provided so that they can sale their products in a disciplines manner without encroching the footpaths added Komal Mittal. On the occasion Deputy Mayor Yunis Kumar, Chairman Market Committee Arun Pappal, Councillor Vikas Soni, Surinder Shinda, Mahesh Khanna, Dharmvir Sareen, Parmjit Chopra, ADCP Sartaj Chahal, Inder Khanna, Rajiv Soni, and Rajesh Kumar were also present.