22 Amritsar city junctions to don new look to ease traffic congestion

The Rs 25-crore junction redevelopment project, which will be carried out under the Smart City Mission,was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Om Parkash Soni. File photo

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 26

As many as 22 junctions (chowks) have been identified in the city that will be designed to ease traffic congestion. The Rs 25-crore junction redevelopment project, which will be carried out under the Smart City Mission,was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Om Parkash Soni here on Saturday.

One-year deadline set

The new design will have pop-up zebra crossing, underground electric wires and cables, pick-up and drop points, vending zones, parking areas, street furniture, area landscaping, signage boards, traffic police booths, bus stops and passenger shelters. The project would be completed within one year.

MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, MLA Inderbir Singh Bularia, Sunil Datti, Mayor Karmajit Singh Rintu, Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira, MC Commissioner and CEO, Smart City, Komal Mittal and Amritsar Improvement Trust chairman Dinesh Bassi were also present.

Launching the Urban Environment Improvement Programme Phase II, Soni said all development works initiated by the government would be completed within two years and in the stipulated time schedule.

Mayor Karmjit Singh Rintu said several development projects were already underway. A Rs 2,200-crore project had been initiated to ensure round-the-clock drinking water supply in the city. Land measuring 40 acre had been acquired for the purpose and tenders had also been floated.

CEO, Smart City, Komal Mittal said the previous design of the 22 identified junctions had several technical flaws. All these junctions had been re-designed as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Urban Development.

These junctions included Makhan Chowk, Ghala-Mala Chowk, Bhagat Kabir Marg Chowk, Gurdwara Sandhu Wala Chowk, Ratan Singh Chowk, Hussainpura Chowk, Sangam Cinema Chowk, Ram Talai Mandir Chowk, Makbulpura Chowk (GT Road), Islamabad Chowk, Raghunath Mandir Chowk, Naiyan Wala Chowk, Amritsar Cantt Chowk (Manekshaw Avenue), Albert Road Crossing (GT Road), Ramatirtha

Road Chowk (GT Road), Gurdwara Pipli Sahib Chowk (GT Road), Khalsa College Chowk, Bhandari Bridge Chowk and Batala Road Chowk.