Development Authorities set up for 3 Punjab cities

Chandigarh, July 16 (UNI) In a bid to streamline and decentralise the urban development process, the Punjab Government today set up special Urban Planning and Development Authorities for Bathinda, Jalandhar and Amritsar cities.

A notification to this effect has been issued by the department of Housing and Urban Development.

The decision is aimed at bringing planning and development in urban areas of Punjab in sync with the global trends and standards.

The decision also marks the first step towards the realisation of the urban development agenda outlined in the election manifesto of SAD-BJP alliance.

Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal has held a series of meetings with experts and officials to break stagnation and speed up the pace of planned urban growth in the state.

Mr Badal during his meetings had explained that it had become necessary to take steps to manage and monitor the development process in the urban areas in order to bring about system and order in future growth.

He said that the step also underscored the special stress which the present government placed on development of major towns and cities in the state.

The official spokesmen said certain steps have already been taken in this direction by constituting Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) and Patiala Development Authority (PDA). But equally large and important cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar and Bathinda were not covered and so seprate Development Authorities had been formed for these three cities.

UNI