'New Chandigarh' to be developed as hi-tech city: Sukhbir Singh Badal

CHANDIGARH: With an aim to develop New Chandigarh as a futuristic township, the Punjab government today said the final master plan to convert Mullanpur into a hi-tech city will be ready within the next four months.

Reviewing the progress of the master plan of Mullanpur as New Chandigarh, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said it would be developed as a world-class planned city "equipped with the good infrastructure and ultra modern facilities".

"The government is in the process of finalising the master plan of New Chandigarh. The consultants would be ready with the fine-tuned master plan within four months," he said.

He said the medi-city and edu-city to be developed in the vicinity of Mullanpur would have world class hospitals and universities along with their campus.

He said that edu-city would be developed on the pattern of Oxford University.

The road grid of the Mullanpur city would be in total synchronisation with master plan and the road network would be planned keeping in view the pressure of development for next 50 years, Badal said.

Cautioning about mushrooming of unauthorised or non-sanctioned colonies, Badal said that it was imperative for the authorities to check the growth of unauthorised construction with stern hand.

Referring to the transit plan for the upcoming project, he said that transit plan for New Chandigarh would be finalised focusing on well planned sectoral grid and road widening from 100 ft to 200 ft.

He also said that about 2,200 acres of land for the town's expansion has already been acquired. The land would be allotted for edu-city, medi-city and eco-city projects and for widening of roads.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on May 30 this year had approved the renaming of Mullanpur as New Chandigarh and asked the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority to develop it as a world class planned city.