Govt. to raise more funds for development in Punjab: Badal

Baba Bakala (Amritsar) Nov. 2 (ANI): Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday said that to achieve the ongoing development projects' target in the state, the Government is determined to raise more money by curbing the revenue theft network in the state.

Badal said it while addressing a public gathering on the occasion of inauguration of Railway Over Bridge on Jalandhar - Jammu Highway constructed at a cost of Rupees 16 crore.ukhbir later told reporters that the SAD-BJP Government believes in doubling the revenue to accelerate development rather than in stopping subsidies to decelerate the economy.

He informed that said that Punjab was aiming to touch a figure of Rs. 13,000 crore by April 2011 in Value Added Tax (VAT) collection, which remained just Rs. 500 crore last year.

He also said excise duty and stamp paper collection would also be increased by double than the previous congress led government has collected.eiterating resolve to serve the people of Punjab for next 25 years, Badal said that electorate would bless and support SAD BJP Government for its development agenda.

Badal said that this government was moving with the focused approach of development and 32 ROBs including Baba Bakala ROB having been completed at the cost of Rs. 700 crores in last three years.

He said that by June 2011 major road projects including 4-laning of Zirakpur - Patiala (NH-64) road ( Rs. 460 crore ), 4-laning of Patiala - Bathinda road (Rs. 1400 crore ) and 6-laning of Sher Shah Suri Marg (NH-1) from Panipat to Jalandhar (Rs. 2700 crore) would change the face of the State.

He said that in one of unique projects of its own kind this 6-Lane National Highway would have access control with Flyovers to be constructed in all cities falling along this road and underpasses to be constructed to cross the main roads.

He said that the works like 4-laning of Dhilwan to Amritsar Wagha Border ( Rs. 470 crore ), 4-laning of 102 km long Pathankot-Amritsar (NH-15) with an estimated cost of Rs.800 crore , 4-laning of 45 km long Kurali to Kiratpur Sahib (NH-21) road ( Rs. 309 crore ), 4-laning of 92 km long Ludhiana - Talwandi ( Rs.480 crore ) would make an important contribution in easing out the traffic on these routes. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)