International airport, 24x7 water supply, infra boost for Ludhiana district in 2022

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 31

A new international airport, 24x7 drinking water supply and a big boost to infrastructure development are some of the many projects that will see the light of the day in Ludhiana, popularly known as Manchester of India, in 2022.

Ludhiana Tribune brings to its readers an overview of what is expected to come up in the state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population, during the New Year.

International airport

Ludhiana, which is reckoned as the financial capital of Punjab, will get an international airport in 2022. The work has already begun to construct the interim terminal building at the Air Force Station in Halwara, which is one of the oldest frontline airbases of the Indian Air Force (IAF), close to Ludhiana, at the cost of Rs 4,691.12 lakh and will be completed within six months. Similarly, the construction of internal roads, estate public health services and campus lighting at the upcoming airport terminal has also picked up pace. Though it missed the January 2022 deadline earlier set by the state government, the new airport will take off in June.

24x7 water supply

The work on the much-awaited 24x7 canal-based surface drinking water supply project worth Rs 3,394.45 crore in Ludhiana will also get underway in 2022. While funds have already been allocated and land for the World Bank-funded project has already been acquired, the work will begin once the RFP for the project gets the World Bank nod.

Infrastructure development

The work on big-ticket infrastructure development projects, being implemented at the cost of Rs 11,494 crore, were put on fast track in Ludhiana district in 2021.

Of the total 31 major development works, 23 have already been completed or are in the advanced stage of completion, while the rest eight projects are targeted to see the light of the day in the New Year.

The 2022 will witness cleaning of the highly polluted Buddha Nullah, a seasonal tributary of the Sutlej, which runs almost parallel to the Sutlej through most of Ludhiana district, including 14-km in Ludhiana city, before merging with the Sutlej, under an ambitious Rs 840-crore rejuvenation project underway.

The other major projects scheduled to be completed this year included a bus stand at Raikot at Rs 3.87 crore, development of hi-tech cycle valley at Dhanansu village, near here, at Rs 365 crore, works under MGNREGS for the current fiscal at Rs 120.1 crore, carcass utilisation plant on design, build, operate, maintain, and transfer basis at Rs 7.98 crore, integrated ROB/RUB on Pakhowal Road on the Ferozepur railway line road crossing at Rs 123 crore, annual maintenance contract of Ludhiana safe city project at Rs 35.96 crore and works under the Punjab Nirman Programme at Rs 90 crore.

Municipal Corporation

The residents want the Municipal Corporation to improve the solid waste management in the city in 2022. As the MC elections are due in early 2023, the councillors will have to either perform or face residents’ ire. The MC’s current House will complete its four years in March 2022.

Waste management: A huge amount of waste has accumulated at the MC’s main garbage dump near Kakka village due to the non-processing of the waste. The residents want the civic body to ensure the processing of waste and legacy waste as per the rules. The MC needs to eliminate a number of roadside garbage dumps. The project of static compactors also needs to be completed in 2022. The MC needs to ensure management of the construction and demolition waste by setting up a required plant.

Smart City projects: The residents want the authorities concerned to ensure the completion of ongoing works under the Smart City project at the earliest.

Choked and overflowing sewers: The overflowing sewers at Dhandari Khurd, New Durga Colony, Shanti Nagar, Makkar Colony and several other areas in outer areas seek resolution this year.

Stray animals: Despite the collection of huge cow cess, the civic body has failed to shift stray cattle from city roads to shelters. Bullfighting incidents are common on the city roads. Besides shifting stray cattle from city roads in a planned manner, the MC also needs to resolve stray dog menace.

Improve services and curb corruption: The residents want the MC to bring transparency in its working and take required steps to curb corruption in the MC offices. The MC also needs to improve services to issue birth and death certificates and TS1 certificates in a time-bound manner. Besides, the civic body must act against overcharging at parking lots besides curbing the illegal constructions.

Health

• Covid vaccination of children between 15 and 18 years will start from January 3.
• Target is to fully vaccinate the population above 18 years in the district.
• To contain further spread of Covid by preventing a third possible wave will be a major challenge.
• The strike of various categories of Health Department employees is expected to end soon.
• Rural dispensaries are hoping to get ample stock of medicines.

Industry

The industrialists hope to get a congenial environment for trade and industry in 2022. They look ahead for the fulfilment of promise to provide power at Rs 5 per unit, better infrastructure at focal points and industrial areas, end to corruption by strengthening single windows and self-certification policy, tax and financial relief for sufferings during the Covid times, technology upgrade centre and expediting work on exhibition centre and freight corridor.

Doraha

• Work to begin on ROB on Neelon-Doraha stretch.
• Permanent solution to the problem of traffic congestion.
• Adequate arrangements for garbage disposal.
• Setting up of a water treatment plant.

Sahnewal

• Major plan to be undertaken to get the town rid of the traffic jams, which are the order of the day.
• The MC will start timely lifting of garbage, which stagnates for days together.
• The shortage of doctors and medicines at the CHC, which caters to the needs of a number of surrounding villages apart from the town itself, is expected to be met in 2022.
• Permanent solution to frequent breakdowns of expansion joints of railway overbridge on the Sahnewal-Kohara stretch.

(Inputs by Shivani Bhakoo, Manav Mander, Harshraj Singh & Lovleen Bains)

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