Amritsar will be one of the best cities by 2017: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday said the state government will make Amritsar as one of the best cities in the world by year 2017. "The state government stands by its commitment to develop Amritsar as one of the best cities in the world by 2017," Badal told reporters here.

Stating that he was personally monitoring the ongoing development projects in the city, he said city residents will get relief from traffic snarls when the proposed flyover projects get completed.

On the delay of solid waste management project, Badal said because of technical and administrative reasons, this project could not commence within stipulated time. "But the re-tendering of the project is being done and work on this project will commence by December 15," he said.

Badal informed that the passage from Hall Gate to Golden Temple would be revamped in a phased manner. He further said once the infrastructure projects are completed in the city, international agencies will be roped in to project Amritsar as international tourist destination.

On the issue of ties between BJP and SAD, Badal said that SAD-BJP is a "historic union" and is unaffected by outburst of any individual. Badal also rubbished the allegation that the state was in debt trap.

"It was just a myth created by false propaganda. Where as in reality the state's debt to GSDP ratio has declined to 32 per cent as against 48 per cent in the Congress tenure," he said. Badal, along with his wife Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, paid obeisance at Golden Temple.