LUDHIANA: On the second leg of his Sangat Darshan programme in Ludhiana city, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday declared that Ludhiana-an industrial hub of Punjab would be soon developed as one of the best cities.

it would be with ultra modern facilities and excellent infrastructure not only in the north region but in the country.

Addressing a massive gathering of the residents from wards of Ludhiana west constituency here at Lions club, he handed over a draft of Rs. 40 crore to the local Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura for the execution of various development works in the city. The Chief Minister said that the master plan of the Ludhiana city had already been finalized to ensure integrated and planned growth of the city and its suburbs. He said the state government had already prepared a blue print of Rs. 5500 crore to provide basics civic amenities of  water supply, sewerage, street lighting and storm water management in all the cities and towns of the state within next three and a half years.

He said a sum of Rs. 240 crore had been earmarked to execute sewerage network in the entire city. Badal asked the councilors to be vigilant in order to ensure the quality of development works at one hand and the proper utilization of funds in their respective wards on the other.

The Chief Minister today listened to the grievances of the residents both at various Sangat Darshan programmes held in ward no. 54-55 (including few parts of ward no. 28 and29), 47, 48, 52, 51, 56, 53,45,46,49 and 50 and redresses them on the spot. He assured the residents that paucity of funds would not be allowed to hamper the progress of development works in the city. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Mayor of the corporation to jointly evolve a time bound mechanism for disposal of their complaints both individual as well as collective on the top priority.

The Chief Minister also sanctioned a grant of Rs. 2.48 crore for the construction of 7 roads, 18 lac for the pavement of streets and Rs. 33 lac for laying sewer and  for ward no. 47. Like wise he also approved the grant of Rs. 4.54 crore for construction of 12 roads, Rs. 33 lac for sewerage in ward no. 48.

In ward no. 54, the Kichlu Nagar Welfare Association demanded to construction of library over a 200 sq. yard vacant plant near gate no. -6 of PAU. The residents of the Udham Singh Nagar urged the Chief Minister to direct the authorities of PSEB to replace the old transmission lines with new one.

Later talking to the media persons about the procurement of paddy, the chief Minister said that the paddy procurement were in full swing and he had deputed Administrative Secretaries in each district to directly oversee these operation. He said that SAD-BJP Government was committed to ensure smooth prompt and hassle free procurement and timely payment to the farmers.

Prominent among other who were present on the occasion included Tourism and Cultural Affairs minister Hira Singh Gabaria, Member Parliament Sharnjit Singh Dhillon, President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh, Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura, Vice Chairman Punjab Trade Board Madan Lal Bagga, DIG Ludhiana Range Ishvar Singh, Deputy Commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar and  SSP Ludhiana R.K. Jaiswal, besides the senior leaders and party workers  of SAD-BJP and members of SGPC.