No political will, Ferozepur mega projects in limbo
Ferozepur, February 9, 2018: Various Central and State government mega projects conceptualized for Ferozepur have been in limbo for want of political will. Residents of the border town are keenly awaiting the completion of these projects, which would not only give a good look to the city, it will create employment opportunities in the border belt.
In view of Ferozepur being an economical-backwards town, the governments had been busy in making tall claims that they don’t have any dearth of resources or manpower but the ground realities tell a different tale.
Among the major projects are incomplete or have not been started despite tall claims by the previous SAD-BJP government and newly set-up government led by Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh.
The projects are –
Setting up of PGI satellite-centre at Ferozepur, railway line between Patti (Amritsar) and Makhu (Ferozepur) – which will reduce the travelling distance and time;
Rail-under bridge – RUB which connects the City and Cantonment and railway crossing is closed most of the time cause inconvenience to the public. More demand for funds due to wrong estimates is the reason behind non-completion of this prestigious project of the city.
Government College Mohkam Khan Wala – which lacks faculty and infrastructure is yet to come to the expectations of the residents.
AstroTurf – Hockey stadium lying incomplete for the last two years and has now become den of drug-addicts instead of producing players as the adjoining Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium has already produced number of international players including Olympian Ajit Singh, Harmeet Singh, Gaganjit Singh and Ronjob Sodhi but all of these managed to rise with their personal efforts and guidance.
Making the National Martyrs’ Memorial Hussainiwla a tourist hub to attract the visitors, which too is giving a deserted look? This is the only place to be seen in Ferozepur for the outsiders who come to witness the Retreat Ceremony at Joint Check Post of India and Pakistan at Hussainiwala.
Centre and State governments must release funds for completion of all these projects on priority, said local NGO Coordination Society President, Inder Singh Gogia.
He said the government should not announce or start any such project for which the funds have not been made available to the executing agency in advance.
Gogia even said to the extent that there looks to be no political will in the completion of the projects in this border town and making heritage buildings in the state should be given a second priority over the major projects of education, health, sports and as per the need of the residents of the state.
Another social activist, Anmol Sharma said the PGI Satellite project has not seen the light of the day yet. The war for achieving political mileage by the leaders of leading political parties has left the locals both fuming and suffering.
