Western Command chief lays foundation stone of MAP

Chandigarh, Sep 4 (UNI) Western Command GOC-in-C, Lt Gen Daljeet Singh, today laid the foundation stone of the mega Married Accommodation Project (MAP) at Chandimandir, the Command headquarters.

This project is expected to go a long way in addressing the problem of shortage of accommodation for married army personnel stationed in Chandimandir and nearby establishments.

The construction comes under the purview of the mammoth MAP launched about two years ago by the Government, which envisages construction of a total of two lakh dwelling units in 79 stations at an anticipated cost of Rs 16,000 crore. The project covers all three services.

Underlining the need to upgrade and expand the entire infrastructure in the Western Command, Lt Gen Singh said the project was aimed at fulfilling a very basic and fundamental requirement of housing for the army personnel. With the raising of authorisation of married accommodation from the earlier 15 per cent to 35 per cent at present, there was simultaneous pressure to build the allied infrastructure such as schools, welfare centres, medical inspection rooms and street lights, he added.

Stressing upon the the need for providing higher quality living conditions in the Western Command, Lt Gen Singh assured it was going to be his endeavour to ensure that this objective is achieved.

Under the current project, plans have been drawn up to construct 1,855 houses in three military stations near here of which 1176 houses would come up at Chandimandir at a cost of about Rs 110,00 crore in the first phase. The rest of the houses would be constructed in N-Area near the Chandigarh airport and in K-area near Zirakpur.

A notable feature of the project is that of the 1,855 houses to be constructed, 1664 dwelling units are for the jawans to enable them to be with their families while they are posted at peace station.

The project will be undertaken in two phases and various categories of houses catering to different ranks will be built. The first phase will entail 125 dwelling units for Major and above rank category, 32 units for JCOs and 1,019 units for other ranks.

In the second phase, 18 units for Major and above category, 16 units in the Captain category and 645 units for other ranks will be constructed.

The work at the Chandimandir station is scheduled to be completed by June 2008 under direct control of Army Headquarters Director General, MAP, Lt Gen Y K Jain. The local supervision will be of the Station Commander Brig P S Rathee and the project Manager Lt Col Sanjoy Bhatia.

UNI HS SHB DS1505