The 76th Republic Day was celebrated with great patriotic fervor and enthusiasm in Fazilka. During the district-level event held at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium, Punjab Cabinet Minister for Transport and Jails, Laljit Singh Bhullar, unfurled the national flag and took the salute from the march past. Addressing the gathering, the minister paid homage to the freedom fighters and martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation.
He also remembered the contributions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in framing the Constitution of India. Highlighting the welfare initiatives of the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Mr Bhullar emphasized the state’s commitment to creating a "Rangla Punjab" as envisioned by the martyrs.
He announced a grant of ₹10 lakh for the Shaheed Memorial at Asafwala and shared that the ex-gratia amount for the families of martyrs has been increased from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore. Similarly, the pension for freedom fighters and their dependents has been raised from ₹9,400 to ₹11,000. In the health sector, the minister highlighted significant achievements, including the operation of 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state, 26 of which are in Fazilka, where over 8 lakh patients have been treated in district.
He also announced that the district now has a cancer hospital with OPD services and a free dialysis facility at the district hospital. Additionally, the construction of a critical care unit is underway in Fazilka. In education, Mr Bhullar mentioned that a new government college has been established in Balluana at a cost of ₹15 crore, and four Schools of Eminence have been inaugurated in the district.
He also outlined infrastructure development projects, such as the historic decision to construct the 150-km-long Malwa Canal, which will enhance irrigation facilities. Several distributaries and link channels in Fazilka are being upgraded with a combined investment of over ₹20 crore.
The Transport Department’s initiatives were also highlighted, including the procurement of electric buses for major cities and the introduction of 55 smart online services for driving licenses and vehicle registrations. Notably, the state provided free bus travel to women, benefitting 14.88 crore passengers in 2024 at an expenditure of ₹726.19 crore. Despite this, the department achieved revenue of ₹1,274.46 crore in 2024-25.
Discussing jail reforms, the minister stated that a high-security prison near Ludhiana is under construction, and modern security measures like V-Kavach jammers are being implemented in sensitive jails. Nearly 800 inmate calling systems are being installed to ensure secure communication for inmates.
Earlier, Shri Bhullar paid homage at the Asafwala War Memorial, honoring the martyrs of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, and announced a ₹10 lakh grant for its upkeep. The event concluded with cultural performances, awards to distinguished individuals, and tableau displays by various departments.
On this occasion MLA Narinder Pal Singh Sawna and Amandeep Singh Goldy Musafir, Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu and SSP Varinder Singh Brar were also present