Coming, 100 more MBBS seats in city from next academic session

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora reviewed the progress of various ongoing development projects in the district at a high-level meeting here on Wednesday.

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He chaired a meeting attended by Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal, ADCs, SDMs, Civil Surgeon and representatives from offices of the District Development and Panchayat Officer, PWD, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Railways and ESI Medical Hospital and College and private contractors.

In the meeting, Arora reviewed matters related to vehicle under passes (VUPs) on Jalandhar Bypass and Dhandari Kalan, cycle tracks along elevated highway, Ludhiana-Bathinda highway, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra highway, parking lots along elevated highway, missing links on the Ludhiana-Kharar highway, waterlogged situation on the service road near Sherpur, other NHAI projects in Ludhiana district, upgrade of the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana, upgrade of ESIC Hospital and new ESIC Medical College being set up in Ludhiana and a new international airport coming up at Halwara near here.

He discussed each issue in detail with the officials concerned and asked them to complete all projects within the time frame. He was apprised of some of the issues being faced in completion of the projects. The MP while complimenting the DC on progress, asked him to resolve issues related to the administrative level as soon as possible. He even asked specific deadlines for completion of the projects from the officials.

After listening to them, he assured that all pending issues related to possession of lands for ongoing NHAI projects would be resolved soon with the intervention of the administration. He asked to push for getting possession of the land, especially where compensation was already paid. He asked them to speed up the work with proper coordination with the departments concerned. Arora was apprised that adequate compensation amount was being given to landowners in lieu of acquisition of their lands and wherever release of funds is pending immediate action is being taken.

The MP was apprised that a feasibility report was carried out for starting work of VUPs on Jalandhar Bypass and Dhandari Kalan. As per the feasibility report, three VUPs have been found viable for the construction. Arora spoke to NHAI regional officer Vipnesh Sharma, who assured him that the tendering process for the VUPs would start within this month.

He also directed immediate removal of encroachments on 26-km-long cycle tracks (both sides).

He was told that the three Sidhwan Canal bridges would be completed by June while the fourth one by July.

Civil Surgeon Pardeep Mohindra apprised him about ongoing development works in the Civil Hospital under the CSR and MPLAD funds. The MP asked the Civil Surgeon to let him know if more funds were required for the upgrade of the hospital and directed him to complete all works in the next month and utilise all allocated funds to ensure quality work. He was also directed to beautify the main entrance of the hospital, besides other ongoing works. Whole of the upgrade work will be completed by February 15, including new operation theatres and civil works, he was told.

Addressing the officials, Arora said the city would get another 100 MBBS seats during the next academic session, adding that 50 MBBS seats will be started at the newly-formed ESI Medical College on the existing premises and additional 50 MBBS seats would be added in the DMCH.

He said it would be a great milestone for the city in the education sector.

He asked AAI officials to send their report to higher-ups that the terminal at the Halwara airport was complete. The officials have assured that the report will be sent within a week. He directed the officials from AAI and PWD and contractors to resolve pending issues required for beginning of the project so that a passage should be cleared for early start of flights from the airport. He added that Air India has shown its interest to start flights as soon as it gets approval from the AAI and also, they were going ahead with a proposal to apply for airport code.