Amritsar and adjoining areas are all set to get total facelift with the development projects worth Rs. 1668 crore fructifying in 12 months. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today held a high level marathon meeting to review the progress of all ongoing projects and asked all departments to work in total tandem to avoid any cost and time overrun of the projects. He said that he would personally review the timeline of every project and it was imperative for all officials to stick to the timeline.
Accompanied by Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister, Punjab, Mr. Badal reviewed the progress of Rs. 160.60 crore sewerage work of North Zone and asked the department to stick to the timeline of completion of the project by July 2015 and the authorities were asked to coordinate with railways for seeking NOC for laying sewerage under railway track at Chehharta. The Secretary Local Government and PWD were asked to coordinate for completion of 149 kilometer long sewerage of South Zone, which was behind schedule.
Expressing satisfaction over converting open ganda nullah into underground RCC storm sewer, Mr. Badal said that project both at Medical Enclave was 95% complete whereas project at Durgiana Mandi stretch and Tarn Taran Road stretch was 75% complete and asked the officials to ensure their completion by the end of July. The Deputy Chief Minister asked SDM Ajnala to announce award for acquired land so that STP worth Rs. 17.78 crore could be completed by December this year.
Asking the authorities to put the construction of Plaza at the main entrance of Golden Temple on fast track, Mr. Badal said that construction agency should be asked to stick to timeline and as no delay beyond Diwali 2013 would be acceptable. It was informed in the meeting that concept paper on project relating to improvement of approach road from Hall Gate to Plaza and improvement of façade of buildings around plaza have already been approved and Tourism Department would also give a suitable proposal for interiors/utilization plan of space beneath Plaza. The Authorities were asked to expedite the construction of New Jail at village Fatehpur and handover the possession of the land to the Improvement Trust Amrtisar. The tender for the construction of new jail have been floated on May 25, 2013.
Majithia informed the meeting that certain projects like Construction of 4 lane Flyover at Kitchlu Chock at the cost of Rs. 18 crore, beautification of Durgiana Mandir at the cost of Rs. 22 crore, construction of sports complex at Ranjit Avenue at the cost of Rs. 17 crore would be completed by the month of August 2013.
Thanking the Deputy Chief Minister for including Amritsar under ‘Safe City’ project, Mr. Majithia said that Home Department has already initiated ground work on installing CCTV cameras in Amritsar City at the cost of Rs. 5.60 crore. Mr. Badal asked the authorities to finalise the design of Amphi Theatre Project adjoining Amrit Anand Park, Ranjit Avenue and ensure that construction of New District Administrative Complex at the cost of Rs. 75 crore be completed at the earliest. He asked the authorities to shift the Malkhana to complete the demolition of old structure. Mr. Badal also approved the conceptual design of 4 entry gates to be constructed at the cost of Rs. 7.5 crore each.
Expressing concern over delay in operationlisation of Heritage Village in GNDU village Amritsar, Mr. Badal asked PIDB to seek bids for management of the project as construction work was already completed more than 85%. The Tourism Department informed that they would conduct the soft opening of Gobindgarh Fort in the month of October by completing the first phase of the project.
The authorities were asked to complete the planning of multi level parking at Wagah/Attari and start the work by August 2013. The Deputy CM said that he would himself lay the foundation stone of New Building of Municipal Corporation Amritsar on this Friday. It was informed in the meeting that work on the construction of outer circular road in Amritsar was near completion and PRT System bid would be finalized within next 15 days as per new route plan.
Focusing on water supply, sewerage and road planning in inner city of Amritsar, Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP Government was fully committed to upgrade the civic and road infrastructure in the old Amritsar city to meet the challenge of increased population and load on the amenities. He said that Rs. 600.60 crore project for sewerage be pursued and its DPR be got approved by July this year. It was informed that Rs. 41 crore rehabilitation of sewerage in walled city would be completed by March 2014.
Stressing the need for improvement of Road Infrastructure in the interior of city, Mr. Badal asked different department to fine-tune Rs. 188 crore plan to widen main roads of Amritsar city along with provisions of storm water sewer including shifting of services. He said that plan should ensure dislocation of minimum population. Badal also gave final touches to comprehensive mobility plan prepared by Consulting Engineers Services India in association with SYSTRA MVA Consulting India. The Authorities were asked to speed up construction of flats for slum dwellers and hand over 80 flats constructed till date to the beneficiaries. The Forest Department was asked to resubmit the proposal for redevelopment of environmental Park along with UBDC from Taran Wala Bridge to Chaatiwind Bridge at the cost of Rs. 16 crore.
Prominent amongst those participated in the meeting were included Mr. S.K. Sandhu Principal Secretary to Chief Ministers, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Mr. Ajay Mahajan, both Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy CM, Deputy Commissioners Amritsar, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Amritsar and officers of various departments.