GLADA sets ball rolling for expo centre

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, February 22

Sensing a need to have a dedicated exhibition centre in one of the largest industrial hubs in north India, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), along with the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), has set the process in motion.

A 7.05 acre land in Sector 39-A on Chandigarh-Ludhiana Road, opposite Vardhman Mill has been identified. A public hearing was held today by the Punjab Infrastructure Regulatory Authority (PIRA) for development of commercial complex-cum-exhibition centre in Ludhiana under public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

Jitender Bir Singh, chairman, PIRA, presided over the meeting which was also attended by Manmohan Singh, member PIRA, GLADA Chief Administrator Parminder Singh Gill, PIDB Additional Managing Director Yashanjit Singh, and representatives of Feedback Infra (Transaction advisors for the project) and private developers.

Discussions were held on various points, including current and projected demand for exhibitions in the city, viability of the project, rationale for undertaking the project under PPP mode, minimum development obligations, estimated project cost and transaction structure.

Later, a separate public hearing was conducted by the PIRA in presence of the GLADA and PIDB officials for development of a large club-cum-recreation centre on 2.97 acre land adjoining the proposed exhibition centre.

Emphasising on club-cum-recreation centre, the GLADA officials said Ludhiana was not only the largest city in the state but also has one of the highest per-capita income in north India. “The population in the city is well educated and has had a long association with recreational clubs. However, eastern parts of the city are relatively under-serviced with club facilities,” they said.