SAD seeks district status for Phagwara
A delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, led by Ranjit Singh Khurana, in-charge of the Phagwara Urban Assembly constituency, and Rajinder Singh Chandi, in-charge of the rural constituency, met with Mayor Rampal Uppal and Senior Deputy Mayor Tejpal Basra to push for Phagwara’s elevation to district status.
The delegation submitted a memorandum reminding the officials of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s electoral promise to grant district status to Phagwara during the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. They urged that the resolution for Phagwara’s district status be passed in the municipal corporation meeting.
Khurana emphasised that residents of Phagwara have long demanded this upgrade, as the town is currently a tehsil of Kapurthala district despite having no direct geographical connection with Kapurthala. He pointed out the inconvenience faced by locals who must travel through Jalandhar city to access district-level administrative offices, including the district court, police headquarters, treasury, cooperative bank and social welfare offices for pensions and scholarships.
Khurana stated that the town is located on the Grand Trunk Road, connecting it to major cities across India. Additionally, Phagwara railway junction serves as a key transport hub with stoppages for numerous important trains.
Rajinder Singh Chandi added that a significant number of NRIs have roots in Phagwara and its surrounding areas and face considerable difficulties in handling district-related affairs. He argued that granting district status would not only save time and financial resources for residents but also accelerate the city''s development. With district status, Phagwara would receive direct grants from the Central and Punjab governments, leading to infrastructural and economic growth.
