Rs 11,494-crore projects underway to transform Ludhiana: CS

Ludhiana: The Punjab Government has undertaken a slew of major infrastructure development projects worth Rs 11,493.89 crore in Ludhiana district with an aim to convert the industrial hub of the state into smart and ultra-modern city, said the Chief Secretary, Ms Vini Mahajan, in Ludhiana on Saturday.

She was reviewing the progress of major development works during a meeting with the district administration officials.

She said a 24x7 surface water supply project was being executed at a cost of Rs 3,383.89 crore, for which the land has been identified and an amount of Rs 38 crore has already been released. Land registration process should be completed by August 31, she asked.

Ms Mahajan said the land acquisition process for the construction of new national highways -- Delhi-Katra expressway, four-laning of Talwandi Bhai to Ferozepur, Ludhiana-Talwandi NH-95, Kharar-Ludhiana and Ladhowal bypass with a total cost of Rs 5,700 crore should be completed by October 15.

In order to give relief to the people from pollution of Budha Nullah, a seasonal tributary of the Sutlej flowing through Ludhiana,  the Chief Secretary said the rejuvenation of the Budha Nullah at a cost of Rs 650 crore was going on in full swing and this project would be completed by December next year.

She said the construction of the international airport at Halwara would be completed by January next to improve the air connectivity of the industrial city, also known as Manchester of India, besides bringing investment and jobs for the district.

To bolster the industrial sector and create jobs, Ms Mahajan desired that the upcoming hi-tech cycle valley at Dhanansu village should be made fully operational by February next. The valley has already attracted prominent industry players such as Hero Cycles, Aditya Birla Group and JK Paper Limited. Hero Cycles Limited has already set up their anchor unit with a production capacity of 4 million bicycles per annum, especially e-bikes and premium bikes. Similarly, Aditya Birla Group has proposed to invest around Rs 1,000 crore in the hi-tech valley.

The Chief Secretary informed that two new Government Degree Colleges at Burj Hari Singh village in Raikot and Jamalpur area of Ludhiana city were coming up and both should be ready by October this year. Besides, 35 projects under the Dhandra cluster RURBAN Mission for development of rural areas on the urban fringes with a cost of Rs 100 crore and construction of 17 panchayat ghars in various villages costing Rs 2.34 crore should also be completed by October, she directed.

She said the development of 57 village ponds of the district with a cost of Rs 12 crore should also be completed by October.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma apprised the Chief Secretary that the development of 31 ponds has already been completed.

Under the smart village campaign, as many as 3,353 development works with a cost of Rs 200 crore were going on in full swing and should also be completed by October.

The Chief Secretary said that new bus stands were being constructed in Mullanpur Dakha, Raikot and Khanna with a cost of Rs 5 crore, Rs 3.87 crore and Rs 3.73 crore, respectively. The projects for providing water supply and sewerage schemes at Raikot, Samrala and Khanna with a cost of Rs 31 crore, Rs 23 crore and Rs 124 crore, respectively, should be completed by December 31 this year, she asked.

Ms Mahajan disclosed that the construction of the much-awaited integrated rail over bridge and rail under bridge project on Pakhowal road with a cost of Rs 123 crore was going on in full swing and this project would be completed soon.

The Chief Secretary expressed satisfaction over Ludhiana Municipal Corporation generating a record revenue from building plans, water charges and property tax besides floating the tenders of development works worth Rs 170 crore.

Instructing the district authorities to complete all the development projects in a stipulated time frame, the Chief Secretary also reviewed the revenue collection in the district and directed the officials to further speed it up.