Indian Express 17.04.2010
Nod to Bathinda master plan; urban estates at Pathankot, Hoshiarpur approved
Express News Service Tags : development, master plan Posted: Saturday , Apr 17, 2010 at 2304 hrs
Chandigarh: The master plan of Bathinda was given an in-principal approval during the meeting of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Board on Friday. A formal approval was also given for development of two new urban estates at Pathankot and Hoshiarpur. A government spokesman said the master plan prepared for Bathinda would not only ensure the integrated and planned development of the Bathinda city but also stall the unplanned and haphazard growth.
Of the total 57,198 hectares, 58.32 per cent has been reserved for commercial purpose, 8.23 per cent for industrial and 7.14 per cent for traffic and transportation under the master plan.
The plan has been prepared keeping the long term view in perspective. In the next 20 years, by 2031, the population of the city will be around 7.86 lakh.
The master area plan also has a provision for the allotment of industrial sites to the proposed ancillary units to be developed in the vicinity of the Guru Gobind Singh oil refinery. It was informed in the meeting that master plans for 9 cities had been notified so far.
Under the master plan an integrated traffic and transportation blueprint has been made with a provision of an 200-fee- wide outer ring road and an inner ring road besides a network of over and under bridges on railway lines to ensure uninterrupted and congestion free vehicular traffic in the city. The board also reviewed the master plan for Jalandhar and decided to publish it again after taking into consideration the suggestions and objections raised by the public.
He said a green signal was given to the acquisition of 200 acres at Pathankot and 140 acres at Hoshiarpur for development of these urban estates.
The state government has decided to acquire the said land under the Land Pooling Scheme. Under this scheme, both the options (land against compensation and land against land) will be offered to those from whom the land will be acquired in Pathankot and Hoshiarpur.
Around 50 per cent of the total area acquired in each urban estate will be utilised for development of roads, parks, public utilities and parking area. Also 5 per cent would be reserved for providing houses to the economically weaker sections (EWS).
The Punjab Chief Minister has also asked the board to immediately float a scheme for the allotment of the available sites earmarked for this purpose to private hospitals and nursing homes and other charitable institutions through advertisements in newspapersThe board also decided to allow the 1984 riot affected allottees to sell their houses allotted by the PUDA.
