Chandigarh, March 15
In a significant move aimed at revolutionizing urban development in Punjab, the Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema unveiled an ambitious project to develop world-class streets across the state’s cities. This groundbreaking initiative marks a historic first for Punjab, with its initial phase targeting three major cities—Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar. Together, these cities will witness the transformation of 42 kilometres of prominent streets into meticulously designed urban spaces by spending more than Rs 140 crore.
Revealing this while addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema expressed confidence in the project’s potential, stating that based on the outcomes and public feedback, it would be extended to all cities in Punjab. He said that the four core activities have been outlined under this project that would redefine the city’s streetscape. He said that the roads will undergo comprehensive redesigns to address traffic bottlenecks, ensure uniform road width, and enhance drainage systems to prevent recurring damage.
“The initiative also includes the construction of universally accessible, resilient, and visually appealing footpaths complemented by landscaping to curb dust pollution. Services such as streetlights, bus stands, and water-supply lines will be realigned to improve aesthetics and functionality. Uniquely, the project includes a robust maintenance plan where the contractors developing the roads will ensure their upkeep for the next ten years, promoting accountability and long-term quality”, said the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
Disclosing further, the Finance Minister said this initiative would roll out in three distinct phases. The first phase focuses on design, engaging top urban planners and international experts to draft detailed layouts over a four-month period. The second phase involves an eight-month construction period, during which leading construction agencies will bring these designs to life in accordance with international standards. The final phase ensures a decade-long maintenance commitment from the construction agencies, coupled with regular mechanized cleaning using advanced equipment.
Roads in Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar have been carefully selected for this transformation. Amritsar will see upgradation on a total of 17.5 KMs long 7 stretches including Majitha Road (from Four S Chowk to Guru Nanak Hospital) 3km, Court Road (Rialto Chowk to Queens Road) 1km, Shubham Road outside Hall Gate (circular road that connects all gates) 7km, Amritsar cantonment road (Cantt chowk to Kachehri chowk to Rattan Singh chowk) 1.5 km, Race course road (Dasonda Singh road to Lawrence road to cooper road) 3km, Golbagh Road (from Hathi gate chowk to Bhagwan Parshuram chowk to wrestling stadium to Hall Gate) 1.5 km and GT Road (from Bhandari to Hall Gate) 0.5 km.
Ludhiana’s project will span 12.4 kilometres, including roads such as Old GT Road (Sherpur chowk to Jagraon Bridge) – 6.5 km, Chaura Bazaar – Starting from clock tower – 1.7 km, and Ghumar Mandi road (from Fountain chowk to Aarti Cinema) – 4.2 km.
Jalandhar’s streets, such as HMV Road (from Maqsudan Chowk to Jail Chowk) – 3.4km, Adarsh Nagar Road and Tanda Road (Jail Chowk to Pathankot Road via old city) – 1.4km, Pathankot Road (from old sabzi mandi chowk in the inner city to Pathankot Chowk) – 2.3km, Model Town main road (Guru Amardas chowk to Model Town T-junction chowk and Chunmunn chowk to Model Town T-junction chowk, Model Town T-junction to Shivani park exit) – 2km, and Nakodar-Jalandhar Road (from Wadala chowk to Nakodar Chowk) 3.2km, will also undergo significant upgrades over 12.3 kilometers.
Highlighting the stark contrast between the meticulously planned urban infrastructure witnessed by Punjabi visiting abroad and the current state of Punjab’s streets, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that despite having some of the best engineers and architects in the world, Punjab has lagged in providing comparable streets due to a lack of vision and intent of political interest of previous SAD-BJP and Congress led previous state governments.
The Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this initiative of Aam Admi Party (AAP) led Punjab Government will set a precedent for urban development in India, transforming not just the physical landscapes of cities but also the way citizens experience urban life. With its focus on excellence, innovation, and sustainability, this project is poised to bring a much-needed overhaul to Punjab’s urban infrastructure, elevating it to world-class standards, he added.
