Punjab to prepare master plans of 40 towns

Chandigarh, Jun 29 (UNI) Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the preparation of a master plan of 40 major towns for their inclusion in the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT), to accelerate planned development of urban areas.

Presiding over the meeting of MLAs and Administrative Secretaries, the Chief Minister said that unplanned growth of urban areas is bane of all civic problems being faced by the cities today.

He asked Local Government Secretary to evolve the Master Plan of every town keeping in view the perspective growth of towns for coming 25 years.

The Chief Minister said that while preparing the DPR of every town, besides keeping in view the local requirements, the report should also focus on providing drinking water, sewerage network, sewerage treatment plant and solid waste treatment plant.

Secretary Local Government informed the Chief Minister that in the first phase Department had included 40 towns under UIDSSMT project besides including Amritsar and Ludhiana under Urban Renewal Plan.

He said that bids had already been invited from global consultants for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the 40 towns and these would be opened on July two. After the approval of DPR of 40 towns by the Union Urban Development Ministry, the civic amenities of these towns would get a face lift with in two years.

Earlier, Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia pointed out that unplanned Mall culture in Amritsar city without the provision of a suitable parking area had created a serious parking problem in the Holy City.

He suggested that multi-storeyed parking slots on BOT basis be constructed at Mall road, Court road, Hall Gate, Sabzi Mandi and Darbar Sahib to solve the chronic parking problem.

The Minister suggested that approach road to Sri Darbar Sahib be decongested and Municipal Corporation Amritsar should auction more Hotel sites in the city in order to make Amritsar an International tourist destination.

UNI