Punjab government approves Rs 3339 crore for cities' development

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Government today accorded approval of the State Annual Action Plan ( SAAP) amounting to Rs 3339 Crore in next 5 years for the development of the infrastructure for 16 cities selected under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation ( AMRUT).

A high level committee approved the plan and the same shall now be forwarded to the Centre for placing before the Apex Committee for approval and release of funds, an official spokesman said here.

The Centre had issued guidelines of AMRUT with basic aim is to provide basic services - water supply, sewerage, urban transport - to households and build amenities in cities to improve the quality of life for all, especially the poor, he said.

He said that Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC), the State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA) of Punjab engaged M/s WAPCOS Ltd (a Government of India Enterprises) as Consultant for preparing the Service Level Improvement Plans (SLIPS) for approved 16 Cities of Punjab, he said.

These cities are Abohar, Amritsar, Barnala, Batala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Khanna, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Moga, Mukatsar, Patiala, Pathankot and SAS Nagar having population more than 1 lakh.