Chandigarh, Nov 17 (Bharat Sandesh News) - Public Transport system of important cities of Punjab including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Patiala and Mohali is set to witness massive transformation with the approval of plan to introduce low floor AC buses , radio Cabs and Radio Autos within six months.
In a high level meeting presided over by Punjab Deputy Chief Minster Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and attended by Local Government Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Member Parliament Navjot Sidhu at Kapurthala House, here today, approved the mega joint Plan of Local Government Department and Transport Department to transform the Public Transport System in the cities. Mr. Badal said that an efficient and desirable Public Transportation System would check the congestion of personal vehicles on the roads. It was informed that tenders for Low Floor AC Buses have already been floated after the issue was cleared by Punjab and Haryana High Court recently. Similarly process was on to shortlist the operators for starting , radio cab and radio auto service in these important towns. He said that these cabs would be GPS controlled and would be available to the passengers at a simple phone call.
The meeting today also approved an ambitious plan for holy city Amritsar that would involve construction of heritage village at GT Road on GNDU Campus, preservation and beatification of Ram Bagh Gardens, preservation of historic Town Hall building, setting up of Food Street, development of pedestrian plaza opposite Golden Temple, restoration and preservation of Historic Gates and massive restoration of Gobindgarh Fort besides strengthening the infrastructure of Amritsar City to make it tourist friendly city.
Mr. Badal said that Amritsar has a potential to emerge as No.1 International Tourist Hub if we are able to prolong the stay of religious tourist by few days and attract more international tourists. He called for a collective approach by all development agencies.
It was informed in meeting that Archaeological Survey of India as put up their conceptual plan for the development of Ram Bagh and it was working in coordination with Municipal Corporation for its development. It was approved in the meeting to develop historic Town Hall and adjoining area as place of heritage importance, in synergy with the surrounding area Golden Temple. The offices in the town hall have been shifted to alternate locations and Town Halls is being developed by Tourism Department in association with PIDB.
Emphasizing attracting additional tourists to Amritsar city, Mr. Badal approved the plan of Heritage Village to be set up on G.T.Road, in the area provided by GNDU. Mr. Badal said that the management and construction of Heritage Village would be outsourced to private specialized agency.
It was also approved to ply eco-friendly Hop on Hop off buses connecting various religious places. The Sulabh International would construct and maintain 33 toilets in the city for the convenience of tourists.
Mr.Badal asked Transport Department to tie up with Tourism Department to start conducted tours on religious circuits including Chandigarh-Fatehgarh Sahib-Sirhind-Chamkaur Sahib-Ropar-Anandpur Sahib-Nangal-Chandigarh, Chandigarh-Patiala, Damdama Sahib-Talwandi Sabon, Mukatsar-Chandigarh and third on Chandigarh-Amritsar-Khadoor Sahib-Baba Bakala-Sultanpur Lodhi-Kartarpur-Chandigarh routes. Mr. Badal also reviewed the progress of covering of Ganda Nala the work on which was started six months ago.
Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Mr. Inderbir Singh Bularia, Mr. Anil Joshi (both MLAs), Mr. D.S Jaspal, Principle Secretary ,Transport, Mr. S.S. Sandhu, Secretary, Urban Development.
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