‘Holy city no longer a priority for Navjot Sidhu’

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 27

The holy city is no longer a priority for Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is also an MLA from Amritsar East.

While the city is celebrating its 440th foundation day, residents feel that the minister is not looking after his favourite projects like solid waste management plant, multipurpose sports stadium and more international flights from Sri Guru Ram Das Jee international Airport.

Retired principal Kulwant Singh, who is also the president of the Amritsar Vikas Manch, said the city used to be the top priority of Sidhu when was an MP.

“He used to take up the issues, including starting more international flights from the Amritsar airport, establishment of SEZ, setting up of an international convention-cum-exhibition center, sports stadium, SAARC hospital and software technology parks, with the officials concerned,” Kulwant Singh added.

He used to take about the restart of the Amritsar- London-Toronto flight, which was the most successful flight of Air India, he added.

The retired principal said now the minister doesn’t talk about increasing international connectivity.

Many foreign airlines such as Oman Air, Turkish Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Air AsisX, Emirates, Etihad Airways had showed interest to start flights from Amritsar but officials at the Centre and state were not letting these airlines to be operation from here, Ankhi claimed.

“Being the Tourism Minister, Sidhu should invite these airlines and other foreign airlines to start their flights from the holy city,” he added.

Manjit Singh Saini said, “It is a matter of surprise that Sidhu announced to set up a film city and an international center of culture near Chandigarh, because of having an airport. Amritsar also has an international airport and the city is the culture hub of Punjab.”

He said earlier impression was that the Badals were not letting Sidhu to carry out development works in the city. As now he is in power, he should lead from the front, he added.

Another senior citizen Prof Mohan Singh said, “Solid waste management plant, multipurpose sports stadium and installing CCTV cameras were his dream projects for the city.

However after becoming the Minister for Local Bodies, he did not utter a word on these projects despite the fact that these come under his ministry.” 

He said the SAARC hospital project was pending for the past nearly three years. Sidhu used to say that the file was on the CM’s table and he was not clearing it, Prof Mohan Singh added.