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Former PM did his bit for growth of holy city

Bus service to Nankana Sahib, ICP at Attari among contributions
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The first multi-crore infra project ‘Elevated road’ was allocated by former PM Dr Manmohan Singh.
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Unlike astute politicians, the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, did not nurse his protégés from the city of Golden Temple where he attained early education when his family settled here after the partition of the country but magnanimously allocated development projects for the overall betterment of the city and its residents.

However, many of these high-value projects were frittered away due to politics and one oft-repeated brief reply – the border district does not have enough land to spare.

He allocated the first multi-crore infrastructure development project, ‘Elevated road’ for the city. His announcement for the 2,500 acre multi-product SEZ did not materialise and plans to expand the railway workshop did not fructify.

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Remembering the contributions of Dr Singh, Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi recalled that Dr Manmohan Singh approved the setting up of a “Special Economic Zone” on the occasion of the 400th compilation day of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He also approved the establishment of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan, a research centre aiming to spread the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, in Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) campus, which became functional.

Manmohan Singh Brar, a city resident said: “To elevate Amritsar as an education hub, a Central University was also approved for Amritsar by him which was later shifted to Bathinda by then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal-led Akali-BJP Punjab government. The elevated road from Hyatt Residency hotel to Bhandari railway overbridge and another elevated road from Ram Talai Chowk to Saragarhi Parking, close to the Golden Temple, was his brainchild.”

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The economist-turned-politician was instrumental in establishing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari.

To normalise the relationship between India and Pakistan, Dr Singh took a lead by starting “Punj-Aab” bus service from Amritsar to Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. To equip the Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport with modern technology and new terminal building, Dr Singh was instrumental in increasing the runway length up to 12,000 feet and providing CAT 3-B facility to enable the landing of aircraft even during low visibility caused by dense fog.

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