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.

“The city is growing very fast and the available infrastructure is falling short of the needs of the increasing population. The respective departments are making efforts to resolve the civic issues, but there is a need for long-term planning,” said PMC deputy municipal commissioner Virendra Jadhavrao.

He said a separate department had been set up for long-term planning. “We have started working on long-term planning and will soon undertake a study of development activities of other municipal bodies. The best practices will be studied and altered according to our needs.”

The PMC has seen exponential growth of population and real estate in the city over the years and it has been struggling with problems of solid waste disposal, sewage treatment, traffic and public transport system besides shortage of drinking water.

Former director of state town planning department Ramchandra Gohad said it was a welcome step by the civic administration to take lessons from other civic bodies.

“Pune is facing too many development problems and all efforts to provide a permanent solution are coming to naught. The situation might spiral out of hands if there is no long-term planning.”

A PMC delegation had recently visited Gorai in Mumbai, where the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had converted a garbage dumping ground into a garden. “The team was impressed by the BMC’s work and the PMC will take similar efforts to change the face of Uruli Devachi and Phursungi villages,” said PMC Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal.

e said the civic body would organise such visits to other civic bodies in the country that have the best practices to resolve similar problems.

Rajpal said the planning for the city would now be done keeping in mind the infrastructure needed to meet the demands of the next 25 years