Chandigarh, March 26:

Punjab Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh on Wednesday described the Punjab Budget-2025 a visionary document, which would further bolster the state's overall development, growth and welfare of people as Rs. 5983 crore has been set aside for complete facelift of cities.

Terming the budget pro-people, Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh pointed out that during the ensuing financial year the urban area would get massive infrastructure improvement in terms of roads, footpaths, electricity system, traffic and street lights, water supply and bus stands to ensure seamless and environment friendly movement. With the visionary approach of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is witnessing unprecedented transformation to facilitate people with the requisite facilities, said Dr. Ravjot Singh adding that the budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema would bring record development in the state.

Dr. Ravjot Singh mentioned that in first phase, four big cities namely Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and SAS Nagar (Mohali) would also get immense and holistic development. The Cabinet Minister also mentioned that the road infrastructure in the said cities would be made of world class as provisions of Rs. 140 crore had been made in the budget. The services of country's renowned architects will be hired to make the plan of these roads as per the international standards, which are to be constructed and maintained by the contractors for the next 10 years. He said as per the plan footpaths would be constructed beautifully without any hinder in all cities. 

The Local Government Minister said a blueprint would be made for roads in the cities in complete uniformity, similar width in all cities besides doing away traffic hurdles. It will also be ensured that the lane marking of roads should be as per stipulated standards and lanes will be repainted after every three months, he added.

Dr. Ravjot Singh also informed that the Budget had also provisions of Rs. 225 crore Punjab Municipal Development Fund and Rs. 300 crore funds under PMSIP, which would further improve the facilities in 166 towns across the state having 40 percent urban population with sanitisation arrangements, water supply & sewerage system, roads and street lights. He said that Punjab Government would also procure 347 e-buses to provide facility of efficient, environment friendly public transport system to the people as well as curtaining the dependency on individual vehicles.

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