Jalandhar, April 7: More than 16,000-km-long dilapidated link roads and bridges in rural areas will be repaired within a year, with the Punjab Mandi Board getting approval for its Rs 2,200-crore plan and estimates for the project from the state government.
Sheds for stocking and cleaning of foodgrains prior to sale, lights, toilets and short-term resting areas will also be built in 435 principal yards (mandis) in big cities and townships and 1,395 village-based foodgrain purchase centres within three years.
The board has chalked out a Rs 2,950-crore rejuvenation plan. While the rural roads and bridges will be repaired and re-carpeted by May 31, 2019, the mandis and foodgrain purchase centres will be uplifted and equipped with all modern amenities in three phases during the next three years at a cost of Rs 750 crore.
“Rs 250 crore will be spent every year for the next three years to modernise the procurement centres and mandis with a budget of Rs 750 crore,” said board chairman Lal Singh.
He said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had already cleared the Rs 2,200-crore budget and estimates for relaying of the rural link roads, apart from sanctioning Rs 750 crore for giving a facelift to the mandis.
“We will award works through tenders in April. The previous SAD-BJP government had not bothered about the deteriorating condition of the link roads and mandis,” said Lal Singh.
Source Tribune India
