Three projects worth Rs. 1174.94 crores launched from Amritsar

The National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) was launched from Amritsar in Punjab today for 12 cities in the country, with Amritsar to be the first under this project.

The Government of India has sanctioned Rs. 69.31 crore as 100 percent grant for Amritsar. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched this Yojana in the presence of union ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and Vijay Sampla, and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The foundation stone was also laid today, to make Amritsar-Bathinda-Ganganagar Highway Four Lane and for Hrike by Pass project which are worth Rs.1100 crore. Also, a Rehabilitation Centre, Amritsar - a project worth Rs.5.66 crore, was also inaugurated.

Addressing the function, Jaitley said that the cultural heritage of Amritsar and Punjab will be maintained and sustained further through the joint efforts of Union and Punjab Governments.

In Punjab, SAD-BJP alliance is not only a political alliance but it is a social alliance which brought in peace, communal harmony and ushering in an age of Development in Punjab, he said.

Jaitley further said that the development of agriculture sector is a major concern for all of us and the Centre had already started irrigation projects worth Rs.50000 crore.

Naidu said that on the recommendation of state government, 16 cities of Punjab are being covered under AMRUT, while three other cities will be developed as Smart cities.

He further added that the NDA Government's objective is to promote inclusive urban development so that those living on the margins of urban areas also benefit adequately from urban development.