Thaindian News

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with the local MLAs and the Members of Parliament at Circuit House.

Badal said the master plan would be completed within six months, adding that out of Rs. 250 crore, the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board would release a sum of Rs.100 crore within a day or two.

The Chief Minister further said that the sole objective for preparing this master plan of Amritsar was to check the haphazard and unregulated growth for the want of perspective plan. He underscored the need that the development schemes and projects in the city would be executed only after the finalization of the blue print.

Badal asked the Local Government department to seek the expertise of the renowned consultants from world over in the field of architectural planning to finalize the master plan in a meaningful and result-oriented manner by floating global tenders, keeping in view the long perspective of at least 100 years.

Badal pointed out that Guru Nanak Dev Hospital would be developed as a world-class health care institution with ultra-modern super specialties. He said the eminent consultants in the field of hospital infrastructure had been engaged for the facelift of the hospital and soon it would emerge as one of the leading health care institutions of India.

Referring to the setting up of skilled development upgrading centres to impart skilled training to the urban and semi urban youth of Amritsar, it was decided in the meeting that one crore rupees would be released out of Skilled Development Institution (SDI) fund by the Centre. He directed the local Deputy Commissioner to tie up with Department of Employment Generation for the implementation of the project expeditiously.

Badal categorically said that the master plan of Rs.250 crore sanctioned for the development of the city in the today’s meeting was in addition to the city development plan approved for Rs.3150 crore under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNURM). He also asked the district administration to ensure the completion of elevated road project to Sri Darbar Sahib within the stipulated time schedule.

The Chief Minister also directed the Mayor and Deputy Commissioner to find a suitable location in the city to set up a press club thereby conceding the long pending demand of journalist fraternity. Badal announced to grant of Rs.10 lakh for the construction of the press club.

Cricketer-turned-politician and local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was present at the meeting, also announced a grant of 15 lakh from MPLAD for the press club.

On the master plan, Sidhu said it should be implemented in such a way that the contacts for the construction of various projects under the integrated development plan be awarded to the construction companies of repute with a proven track of experience and calibre.

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Raminder Singh Bularia, Dr. Dalbir Singh Verka, Manjinder Singh Kang, Malkiat Singh, Anil Joshi (all MLAs), Mayor Sawet Malik and Senior Deputy Mayor Ajaybir Pal Singh Randhawa. (ANI)