Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has requested Union Housing and Development Minister Hardeep Puri to include SAS Nagar (Mohali) in the Smart City project for its inclusive development. During his meeting with Puri in New Delhi, Mann emphasized the importance of developing Mohali as a Smart City, as it is part of a tri-city comprising of Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula, which makes it significant.
The Chief Minister further said most of the departments of the state government have their head offices in this city, due to which it is essential to give further fillip to its growth. Therefore, he urged the inclusion of Mohali in the Smart City Project for further holistic and organized growth.
Mohali is currently experiencing immense growth with the presence of educational institutes, townships, industries, and an international airport. Mann has urged for funding to support planned growth and infrastructure development in the area, which needs special attention.
Besides, the Chief Minister highlighted another issue, requesting the restoration of the same ratio of funds under AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) 2.0 as in AMRUT 1.0. According to him, as these towns are rapidly expanding, the old share ratio must be restored to ensure continuous infrastructure development.
Under AMRUT 1.0, the Centre and the state share was 50:50 for towns in one lakh to 10 lakh population category, whereas under AMRUT 2.0, the Centre and the state share has been revised to 33:67 for the towns under the same population category. Also, for million-plus cities like Ludhiana and Amritsar, the ratio was 33:67 (Centre and the state share) and under AMRUT 2.0, it is 75:25.
The Chief Minister’s appeal for the inclusion of Mohali in the Smart City Project is, therefore, a step towards ensuring planned growth and holistic development in the area.
