CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Minister,  Parkash Singh Badal today announced that he would soon take up the case of declaring historic Sultanpur Lodhi as a heritage town with Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh.

A decision to this effect was taken by Badal while presiding over a meeting of Sultandpur Lodhi Development Board here .

Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Badal also asked the Local Government Department to prepare a comprehensive proposal so that it could be taken up with the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India to include the overall development of Sultanpur Lodhi under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM). He made it clear that the original architect and grandeur of the historic Sultanpur Lodhi town of great religious and cultural importance with the legacy of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji would be preserved while implementing various development projects in the city.

He said that all the development projects related to strengthening of roads infrastructure, sewerage, water supply, preservation of heritage buildings and monuments would be completed within a stipulated time frame. He further said that all the approach roads to Sultanpur Lodhi would be strengthened and widened.

Mr. Badal also directed the Transport Department to start new direct bus service from Sultanpur Lodhi to Delhi, Talwandi Sabo, Anandpur Sahib and Vaishno Devi to be a part of religious tourism circuit in the state. He also said that a new bus stand and a fire station would also be constructed in the town. Regarding shifting of Police Station from old Qilla site to some other place and Administration Complex which was presently at a low laying area, Mr. Badal directed the Punjab Urban Development Authority to examine the feasibility to shift both at some new location.

Relating to the restoration of Qilla and precints Mr. Badal asked the renowned the Conservationist Bhai Baldeep Singh of the Anad Foundation to workout a detailed plan to implement this development project. Bhai Baldeep Singh had also been passed to carry out the restoration and renovation work of the boundary wall and main gates of the Qilla at the initial stage.

Prominent amongst those who in the meeting included Local Government and Industry Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Finance and Planning Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, Education and Civil Aviation Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ms. Laksmi Kanta Chawla, PWD (B & R) Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Bhai Baldeep Singh of Anad Records Pvt. Ltd., besides the senior functionaries from the departments of the state government.