By IANS,
Chandigarh : Even as Punjab goes powerless for six to 10 hours everyday in summer months, the state government is planning to have air-conditioned bus terminals in various cities as part of major infrastructure projects worth Rs.250 billion to be executed in the next three years.
Chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh, who Monday presided over a meeting of the Punjab infrastructure development board (PIDB), said that 75 projects, including expressways criss-crossing Punjab, flying clubs, super-specialty hospitals, ring roads and five-star hotels would be completed within three years.
Among the projects, a Rs.86.3-billion expressway between Pathankot town in north Punjab and the shrine town of Ajmer in Rajasthan would reduce the distance between both places by 200 km from the present network of highways.
The 340-km project will be executed by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group (ADAG), Singh said.
Other expressways include one from the upcoming international airport at Mohali, adjoining Chandigarh, to Phagwara town (Rs.22 billion), an expressway around Mohali (Rs.23 billion) and a ring road around the Sikh holy city of Amritsar (Rs.25 billion) will be constructed.
Singh said other projects include air-conditioned bus terminals at Mohali, Patiala and Bathinda, five-star hotels at various places and a sports complex at Mohali.