PIDB clears Rs 20,000 crore projects for Punjab

Chandigarh, May 22 (UNI) Projects worth Rs 20,000 crore, including an eight-lane Pathankot-Ajmet super-express highway, a luxury train encircling the entire religious artery of the state, eight-lane ring-roads and an IT Tower are some of the new landmark projects cleared by the Punjab Infra-structure Development Board (PIDB) here today.

The 22nd meeting of the Board, chaired by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also approved, in principle, an infra-structure transformation outlay of additional Rs 35000 crore that would provide Punjab with ultra-modern infrastructure facilities.

While the ambitious eight-lane super-express highway plans to connect Pathankot with Ajmer via Jalandhar, a luxury train would link the entire religious artery covering Mohali, Patiala, Amritsar, Kangra and Anandpur Sahib while sprawling eight-lane ring-roads would come up around Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar.

The town of Mohali can look forward to transform into the World's new Silicon valley with projects like an IT Tower and a super express way connecting the Mohali International Airport with the holy city of Amritsar, by-passing Phagwara and Jalandhar, "A globally structured Habitat Centre at Mohali is set to mark a new development signature in infrastructure history in sheer magnitude and architectural conception," the PIDB Managing Director, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu said.

Releasing the details of the meeting, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Harcharan Bains said the Board also decided to undertake a special survey of the Kandi areas for undertaking development projects there.

The board also approved engaging the services of two infrastructure development consultancy firms to conceive and ensure time-bound implementation of projects and another to increase the revenue of PIDB besides generating resources to make its functioning far more viable and result-oriented.

The Punjab Finance Minister and Vice Chairman of PIDB Manpreet Singh Badal, pointed out at the meeting that Punjab needed an additional investment of at least Rs 30,000 to 35000 crore in terms of global infrastructure projects over next three years.

The Board also approved the Lalru-Baddi, Mohali-Phagwara express-way including a link to the Mohali International Airport, with a possible detour to Amritsar from the outskirts of Phagwara. A pre-feasibility study is likely to be undertaken to examine the possibility of by-passing Jalandhar en route Amritsar .

Punjab is also set to move into the era of radio-cabs with the board approving the introduction of this service in the five major towns of the state. The Board also approved the introduction of the city bus service at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

Sanction was accorded to the setting up of one Institute of Hotel Management at village Boothgarh near Mohali and another at Sirhind adjacent to the Floating Restaurant, modern Bus terminals at Mohali, Bathinda, Patiala and Hoshiarpur, high-level bridge at Chaki Nadi near Pathankot, Computerised Integrated Check Post, Multi-specialty hospital at Mohali and Bathinda, five star hotel and parking-cum-commercial complex at Bathinda.

The board gave a nod to pilot training institutes at Ludhiana and Amritsar, Polytechnics at Rahon and Nanowal, Fruit and Vegetable market at Mohali, sports cum-commercial-complex at Mohali, Amritsar Airport Expressway and construction of high-level bridges at Makhu,Chola Sahib and Sarai Ka Pattan.

To boost tourism activity in the state, the board approved up-gradation and beautification of urban roads of five major cities of Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali, development of a Nature Walk at Moga, maintenance plans of Neem Chameli Tourist Complex at Attari-Wagah border Amritsar, Pincassia Tourist Complex and Water Lilly Resorts, Ropar, opening of fast food counters at Khatkarkalan, Kurali and Morinda, development of hotel Amaltas at Ludhiana.

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