CHANDIGARH: Three Punjab Ministers on Friday charged the successive Congress governments at the Center and in the State for systematic and sustained neglect of the Majha and the Doaba regions.

In a hard hitting statement, the three ministers said that if it was not for exemplary and unparalleled growth-incentives and investments made by the SAD-BJP Governments, there would neither have been an International Airport at Amritsar  nor three universities (including a World Class varsity) nor a Ranjit Sagar Dam and nor an All India Medical Institute at Amritsar nor two regional passport offices in these regions , not to speak of the world class infrastructure network of four -lane and six lane expressways now launched in these areas.

"We challenge Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Capt. Amarinder Singh to a direct and live television debate on the criminal neglect of the Doaba and the Majha areas by the Congress Governments. In the past 18 months alone, the SAD-BJP Government has started projects worth over Rs. 55,000 crores in these two areas which are at different stages of completion. This is more than the total investment made by the Congress governments in over 50 years of their misrule", said Manoranjan Kalia, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, and Sucha Singh Langah, Local Government, Rural Development and Agriculture Ministers respectively.

These ministers further said that the entire border belt remained in a state of utter neglect during the Congress Governments and it was left to Parkash Singh Badal to not only give ownership rights and border area compensation to the farmers along the border especially those engaged in farming across the fence on international border.

The Ministers said that whereas the Congress neglected these regions,the SAD-BJP Government this year alone has completed infrastructure projects in  Majha and Doaba areas to the tune of Rs. 3372 crore where as ambitious projects to the tune of Rs.28661 crore are on anvil, to change the face these two regions.

Listing out the projects the Ministers said that 27 road projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 450 crores have already been completed whereas 7 high level bridges with an estimated cost of Rs. 125 crores were at the advanced stage of completion. They said that in the Majha and Doaba area 8 ROBs at the cost of Rs. 110 crore and 5 other infrastructure project costing Rs. 80 crores were completed by the government.

The Ministers said that work on 22 ROBs/RUBs, high level bridges and other projects costing Rs. 505 crores were in full swing.

Determined to change the face of Punjab, the Ministers said that the government has initiated 23 more ROBs costing Rs. 400 crores. Similarly 3 roads from Chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib, Chandigarh Mullapur Roads and Southern Bye Pass Ludhiana were being constructed at the cost of Rs. 700 crores. Similarly construction on 12 other projects costing Rs. 1082 crore was on anvil.

Unfolding the vision of SAD-BJP Government  the Ministers said that besides these projects our government has initiated 89 projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 28661 crore to  put Punjab on fast track of development and growth. They said that Punjab has planned Mohali-Phagwara, Mohali-Banur-Baddiand Pathankot-Ajmer Expressway at the cost of Rs. 14600 crores. Two ring roads for Amritsar and Ludhiana has been planned at the cost of Rs. 4300 crore. The Minister said that two metro rail projects for Ludhiana and Amritsar to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 6600 crore on anvil.

Calling upon Congress leaders to tender public apology for misguiding the people, the ministers said that results of ensuing Lok Sabha poll would put a stamp of approval on the development agenda of SAD-BJP Government, calling a bluff of Congress propaganda.