Punjab govt panel clears projects worth Rs 2,800 cr

The Empowered Committee of the Punjab government has approved 11 mega projects to be set up at an investment of about

Rs 2,800 crore that is likely to provide employment opportunities to over 20,000 people.

Harcharan Bains, the chief minister’s media advisor, said that out of these 11 projects, three will be in manufacturing — Tayal Energy Ltd (Rs 507.98 crore) in Goindwal Sahib, Wazir Singh Yarns Pvt Ltd (Rs 31.49 crore) in Amritsar, and Merial India Pvt Ltd (Rs 250 crore) in Mohali with a total investment of Rs 789.47 crore. Together, they will help create employment for 1,155 people.

The committee also approved five multiplex and hotel projects. These include a multiplex to be developed by Best Infrastructure (India) Pvt Ltd which will come up at Bathinda with an investment of Rs 297.14 crore, another by Necia Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd (Rs 349.46 crore) near Amritsar International Airport.

The remaining three hotel projects will be developed by Piccadily Hotels Pvt Ltd (Rs 155 crore) in Ludhiana, Cargo Motors Pvt Ltd (Rs 90 crore) in Jalandhar, and Hotel Alstonia, a unit of Nijar Hotels (Rs 11.07 crore) in Amritsar. Together, these five projects will require an investment of Rs 902.67 crore, Bains added.

This apart, one mega project on retail chain in the services sector — Metro Cash & Carry India Pvt Ltd with two centres in Ludhiana, and one each in Mohali, Zirakpur, Jalandhar and Amritsar — will come up with a total investment of Rs 900 crore.

This project is expected to create employment opportunities for 2,700 people, he said. The empowered committee also approved an agro-based industrial project, Bhagwati Lacto Vegetarian Exports Pvt Ltd, at Ferozepur Cantonment with an investment of Rs 32.92 crore. This will help generate about 500 jobs.

The committee also granted clearances to a mega housing township project to be developed by DSK Realtors Pvt Ltd near the international airport in Amritsar over an area of 100 acres at an investment of Rs 190 crore, creating employment opportunities for 1,500 people. The Empowered Committee has so far approved 32 projects in its various meetings with a total investment of Rs 33,103.91 crore.