Urban News

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has earmarked Rs 339.92 crore for development works and Rs 1520.63 crore for land acquisitions under various schemes for the 2010-11 fiscal.

This will leave a deficit of Rs 1263.14 crore in the annual budget of Rs 654.53 crore approved at GMADA’s sixth meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is also the board’s chairman, in Chandigarh on Friday. The deficit will be covered by raising loans and sale of chunk sites at the City Centre in Sector 62.

The latest budget has seen a steep hike of 161 per cent from last year’s estimate. The 2009-10 budget had earmarked Rs 42.27 crore for development works and Rs 1321.87 crore for land acquisitions.

Last year, GMADA earned Rs 135 crore from External Development Charges (EDC) and Licence Fee Charges (LFC) besides Rs 115.52 crore from other sources, including Rs 63.02 crore from interest on FDRs from banks, non-construction fee, penal interest and interest on instalments on the sale of commercial/residential/institutional sites.

This year, GMADA expects to earn Rs 200 crore from EDC and LFC besides Rs 454.53 crore from other sources, including Rs 31.79 crore from interest on FDRs from banks, non-construction fee, penal interest and interest on instalments on the sale of commercial/residential/institutional sites.

The major development projects to be undertaken this year include the Social Housing Scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 41.17 crore, urban estates at Rs 339.92 crore and sports complex in Sector 63 at Rs 15 lakh. Besides, Rs 32 crore has been

earmarked for construction of houses for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). GMADA will also provide sewerage facility and a treatment plant in Kurali at Rs 24 crore.

Road network to be developed

GMADA also approved major upgrade projects of road network in Greater Mohali. The focus will be on upgrading, widening and strengthening roads from the junction of Sector 85/86/98/99 dividing Sector 98/105, 97/106 and 106/107 up to Kharar-Banur road; roads dividing Sectors 58/54, 58/59, 73/72, 74/75, 90/91 and 93/94; the road from Sector 71/72, 69/60 (PCL chowk to the cremation ground near Balongi); and the road from the junction of Sector 65/65A, 66/66A to 66-66A/81 connecting Chatt road on Zirakpur-Patiala National Highway-64.

City maps to be installed

For the convenience of local residents and visitors, GMADA will install city maps, sector maps and multi-directional boards across Mohali at an estimated cost of Rs 67 lakh.

PUDA budget

In the budget of Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) for 2010-11 approved on Friday, Rs 17.60 crore was earmarked for construction of EWS houses, Rs 200.53 crore for undertaking development works across the state and Rs 89.96 crore for construction of district administrative complexes at Amritsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur.