Promising to give a major facelift to the Durgiana Mandir complex, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with cabinet minister Anil Joshi, laid the foundation stone of the renovation project that will cost around Rs 115 crore to the state exchequer.
As the rain played spoilsport and the organisers had to hold the function indoors, the deputy chief minister promised an open plaza on the pattern of the one at the Golden Temple, that, he said, would change the face of the temple surroundings.
Claiming that the work will be done at a brisk pace, the deputy chief minister said that the aim was to make Amritsar a worldclass city and this is the reason that various projects are going on in Amritsar.
“The government is committed to the overall development of the city which has tremendous religious and cultural importance. The landscaping, light and sound shows, open air theatre and the plaza will be giving an impressive surrounding to the complex,” he added.
Coming to the development of the holy city, the deputy chief minister said that the city underwent a transition for the better during the previous 9 years of the SAD-BJP government with Rs 3,000 crore spent on various development-oriented infrastructural projects.
Elaborating his plans to turn Amritsar into a hub of tourism, Sukhbir said that the beautification of the area around Sri Darbar Sahib besides the current beautification of Shri Durgiana Mandir Open Plaza and the focus on the Rs 250-crore project of giving a facelift to the Gobindgarh Fort, would further strengthen Amritsar’s status as tourist destination.
The deputy chief minister reiterated developmental projects would not be allowed to suffer due to lack of funds.
Listing the achievements of the SAD-BJP government, Sukhbir said that under the leadership of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, the state government has been able to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state.
Applauding the efforts of the deputy chief minister, cabinet minister Anil Joshi said that the beautification of the Durgiana Mandir will be world-class and pilgrims will be getting a great atmosphere here.
Stressing that the deputy cm was very keen on the project, Joshi said that the project was planned recently within only 15 days the money was also released by the government.
Joshi lashed out at the Congress and the AAP for misleading people by making false promises.
Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh. Deputy commissioner Varun Roojam, police commissioner Amar Singh Chahal, local SAD chief Gurpartap Tikka and others were also present on the occasion.