Work on BRT system in Amritsar to start this month: Badal

The work on Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) here will start by mid-February and will be completed by 2016, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said today.
This was said by the Deputy Chief Minister during a high- level meeting held here to review the status of various ongoing developmental projects in the holy city, an official release stated.
The state government has initiated the BRTS project costing Rs 491 crore to ease traffic congestion and make transportation easier for tourists, in an attempt to attract them to the city.
Badal said Amritsar would be made a top tourist destination.

Apart from the BRT project, the work on the municipal solid waste management system project will also start later this month, Badal said.
The project will cost Rs 72.49 crore.

Badal, who was accompanied by Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi in the meeting, directed the officials concerned to ensure completion of both projects within the stipulated time frame.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Amritsar, which already has a fleet of 40 city buses, while get 110 more buses.
To conserve and give a facelift to the traditional ambiance of the historical Company Bagh, Badal asked the municipal corporation and the Tourism Department to make arrangements for light and sound, install musical fountains, pathways and carry out tree plantation and landscaping there.

Reviewing the status of restoration and conservation of Town Hall building being done at a cost of Rs 65.5 crore, Badal asked the agency to construct a world class convention centre and exhibition hall, besides good-quality food court, craft bazaar and an open-air theatre.
Earlier, Badal visited the site of 'Entrance Plaza' in the Golden Temple and asked the Tourism Department to expedite the remaining work of the underground plaza.
Badal also inspected the ongoing restoration work at the historic Gobindgarh Fort, a legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and asked officials to complete the first phase at the earliest so that it could be thrown open to the public.