Punjab to develop area specific industrial clusters: Sukhbir Singh Badal

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the state would nurture area specific industrial clusters to develop industry according to the strengths of that particular region.

Punjab government was fully committed to attract at least Rs one lakh crore investment in the state in the coming four years, Badal said during Invest North Conclave organised by CII in Gurgaon.

The major sectors for this would include textile, agro processing, information technology, petrochemicals and downstream industry of refinery and medical tourism.

These industries would be promoted in specific areas after considering the local advantages, an official release said.

Final touches were being given to the state's new industrial promotion policy which is expected to be announced by January next year, Badal said.

The state has initiated an ambitious project to upgrade the basic infrastructure in all 142 cities and towns at the cost of Rs 10,000 crore and the total maintenance of all infrastructure projects would be given to a single agency for the next 15-20 years, he added.

He expressed confidence that after a long time the Railways Minister was from the north and he would clear long pending proposals for extension of rail freight corridor up to Amritsar and other vital rail links in the state.