Industry Minister Punjab Sunder Sham Arora today while kick-starting the second phase of the urban environment improvement program said that development works worth Rs. 18 Crore would be completed under this project in the Hoshiarpur city.After the virtual inauguration of the second phase through video conference by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Industry and Commerce Minister formally started all the 62 different development works for Hoshiarpur city. Sunder Sham Arora said that besides revamping urban infrastructure, with the completion of various projects under the second phase, basic infrastructure will be strengthened in municipal areas. He said that the project worth Rs. 18 Crore includes construction and maintenance of the new road in the city, interlocking tiles in streets, construction of community hall at the cost of Rs. 3.11 crore by the public works department, and storm sewerage system costing Rs. 1.99 crore by the sewerage board. Pointing out further at the works completed in the Hoshiarpur city, the Minister said that the infrastructure had already been boost in the schools besides constructing smart class rooms in elementary schools. He said that RO systems had also been installed in schools to ensure the availability of potable water. Apart from this, the Minister said, 75 CCTV cameras at 26 different spots and 100 open gymnasiums were installed in the city adding E-Rikshaws to 38 needy, widows, and divorced women had been provided to empower them to earn their livelihood.
Arora added that a sum of Rs. 10 crores has been spent to ensure the overall development of the focal point Hoshiarput to further facilitate the industry, likewise, a library and hostel has been established in the government college. He mentioned that the target of installing 100 percent LED street lights were already achieved in Hoshiarpur city.Giving details about new projects, Sunder Sham Arora said that a handicraft cluster at the cost of Rs. 1.42 crore to be established in the village Boothgarh to revive the handicraft industry in the district apart from other major projects like setting up an army training institute, medical college, cancer hospital, and railway flyover.Divulging more about PUEIP, Arora said that under this project, the basic infrastructure and civic amenities to be provided to the urban population at the outlay of a whopping Rs. 11,000 crore in the state as Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has already directed to complete all the projects within a time-frame of one year. The Minister said the project aimed at strengthening of water supply network in the state, scientific disposal of solid waste, providing utility facilities at all public places in the cities to further augment the urban infrastructure. He mentioned that earlier too projects worth Rs. 3000 crore were completed under the first phase of this project.Prominent amongst included Vice-Chairman Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Chairman Improvement Trust Advocate Rakesh Marwaha, Deputy Commissioner Apneet Riyait and Commissioner Municipal Corporation Balbir Raj.