On his birthday, it was Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh who gifted ludhiana, projects worth Rs 199.54 crore, to give a major boost to the smart city’s infrastructural development.
A total of seven major projects were unveiled by the Chief Minister during his visit to the city on Sunday including lED street lighting (Rs 44.38 crore), installation of way-finding and signages (Rs 9.14 crore), Sarabha Nagar market retrofitting (Rs 14.88 crore), 24x7 Surface Water Based Water Supply Scheme for ABD Area (Rs 46.50 crore), rehabilitation of existing Sewerage System of ABD area (Rs 39.30 crore), Rehabilitation and Augmentation of Storm Water Drainage System of ABD Area (Rs 22.59 crore) and Smart Street Phase I - Malhar Road (Rs 22.75 crore).
Capt Amarinder laid the foundation stone of five projects at three places to pave way for their implementation, with the promise that development work in the city, which is a major industrial and business hub for the State, would continue to be taken up on priority by his Government.
The work orders were in the process of being issued for lED street lighting and way-finding and signages (digital and analogue) installation, said the spokesperson.
Spokesperson said that the lED project envisages replacement of the existing 1.05 lakh lights with the energy saving lighting.
Scheduled to start later this month, it will be completed by December 12 to generate guaranteed energy saving of 63.25 percent — that is 29.75 million units per year, translating into an expected energy saving per annum of Rs 6.09 crore for the first year, with six percent incremental every year thereafter.
The wayfinding and signages project will cover 757 signage boards of eight types.
The existing water supply system in ABD area is based on ground water source, with 25 tube wells, supplying water for about 10 hours per day. “The present system is completely unmetered and consumers are charged on flat rate basis,” said the spokesperson.
As part of the Smart Street Phase-I project, it is proposed to introduce smart utilities, road diet, shared pathways, regulated parking and other smart concept as per Mission guidelines.
Improvement of below-grade infrastructure, introduction of utility corridor under footpaths, efficient use of space and ensures avoiding of un-necessary road cuttings for utilities maintenance are among the project’s main features.
It also aimed to provide adequate streetscape elements, such as street lights, way-finding and parking signage, garbage bins, amenity zone for vendors, bus shelters, public toilets, etc.