Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday set March 31 next as deadline for completion of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project involving a cost of Rs333 crore.
Sukhbir, reviewing the work on the project, said
that the BRTS project would not only develop the holy city as tourist destination but
would ease traffic congestion and help in curbing pollution in a big way.
Officials informed the Deputy Chief Minister that out of seven corridors, five would be completed till March 31, 2015, while the remaining two would take another six months as the work involved removal of transmission lines.
About delay in construction of an administrative
complex, he asked the
Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to release Rs66.87 crore immediately to ensure the completion of project by January 2015.
He also asked officials to speed up construction of a new central jail at village Fatehpur at a cost of
Rs132 crore.
On the issue of setting up of a parking complex and tourist reception centre at Attari border, the officials told Sukhbir that tenders have been floated for both projects and work would be completed by this year end.
Sukhbir also asked the Director Tourism and Cultural heritage department Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa to take up the matter with Union Government for funds for the conservation of historic Ram Bagh Garden.
Officials informed that conservation of building was carried out and soon it would be undertaken by the department of cultural affairs.
To make Amritsar as Punjab’s first “safe city”, Sukhbir said that this project should be completed before mid of the coming year costing Rs40 crore. The committee for execution of the project under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary has been notified.