CHIEF MINISTER ANNOUNCES TO SET UP PANCHKULA METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AUTHORITY TO ENSURE SWIFT EXECUTION OF INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN MADE FOR PANCHKULA - MANOHAR LAL
PANCHKULA HAS BECOME THE THIRD CITY TO HAVE SUCH AUTHORITY AFTER GURUGRAM AND FARIDABAD

Ensuring holistic Development of Panchkula, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal today announced setting up of Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority(PMDA) for ensuring timely and swift execution of the Integrated Development plan made for Panchkula.

"PMDA would ensure sustained and balanced growth of Panchkula. The Authority would work on the similar lines of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority(GMDA) and Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA)," announced Sh. Manohar Lal while addressing a press conference here today.He said that the Authority while working amicably with other departments namely HSVP, HSIIDC and Municipal Corporation would ensure the availability of infrastructure and other key facilities to the people.

He said that in a bid to ensure that the people of the state along with Panchkula residents should be aware of the development which has been planned for the city, extensive Information Education Communication(IEC) campaigning of Panchkula's Integrated Development Plan would be done.

"A map identifying every corner of Panchkula would be prepared and later hoardings displaying the information about completed projects and the projects in progress would be installed across the city, so that people can have a clear idea about the projects," said Sh. Manohar Lal.

"PMDA would ensure sustained and balanced growth of Panchkula. The Authority would work on the similar lines of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority(GMDA) and Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA)," announced Sh. Manohar Lal while addressing a press conference here today.He said that the Authority while working amicably with other departments namely HSVP, HSIIDC and Municipal Corporation would ensure the availability of infrastructure and other key facilities to the people.

The Chief Minister said that after Panchkula, a similar Integrated Development plan would be chalked out for Karnal, Hisar and other districts of the State.

"The swift execution of Panchkula's Integrated Development Plan and setting up of PMDA will not only ensure the development of Panchkula as Centre of Excellence but it would also help Haryana to improve in the Ease of Living and Business Index", said the Chief Minister.

Haryana aims to develop Panchkula as ‘Economic Capital’, says Manohar Lal

It was in the year 2019 when Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal soon after coming to power had envisaged developing Panchkula, one of the vital parts of Tricity as the second ‘Economic Capital’ of Haryana after Gurugram. Conceptualizing Chief Minister’s vision, every wing of the government functionary worked relentlessly prepare a roadmap for developing Panchkula as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in various areas. Not only this, Sh. Manohar Lal while closely monitoring the plan himself, also took some historic decisions to realize his vision.

During the press conference, the Chief Minister, while hinting towards the State Government's futuristic plans for making Panchkula a major hub for Industrial Investment, Medical, Tourism and Paragliding said that in the coming days, the Government is geared up to take up several other initiatives to create a conducive environment for investment in residential as well as commercial properties in Panchkula along with ensuring other holistic development which will be ecological and eco-friendly.

Addressing media, the Chief Minister said that Panchkula is the first pre-planned city of Haryana and since 1972, when the city’s first action plan for its urbanization was prepared, Panchkula has gradually witnessed major transformation varying from developing modern amenities of life, besides infrastructure development.

"Now taking our development plan a step further, various developmental charges and taxes have been slashed by almost one-third in Panchkula district, bringing them at par with Mohali and Zirakpur to woo Investors and further to make potential investment in Panchkula district," he asserted.

He said that just like the decision to bring down External Development Charges (EDC) and Infrastructure Development Charges (IDC) at par with Mohali and Zirakpur will not only ensure the overall development of Panchkula, the ongoing development targets set by the State Government would also play a pivotal role in the execution of the Government’s plan to develop Panchkula as a Smart City, Tourist Destination, Education and Medicity Hub.

Two big Hospitals on the cards for Panchkula

The Chief Minister informed that in a bid to develop Panchkula as a Medicity, two big hospitals with modern health infrastructure will be opened in Sector-32 and Sector-5C. The state's first joint food and drug testing lab is being opened in Panchkula's Sector-3 at Rs 22 crore, he informed. He said that a Wellness Centre and Panchakarma Centre are also being set up at Thapli. Besides this, a nursing college is being established in Panchkula.

The Chief Minister said that dedicated efforts are being made to set up an education city in Panchkula and for this, a site has been identified in Chandi Mandir and the site comes under the Municipal Corporation area.

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is being established at Sector-23, Panchkula and a new Sanskriti Model School was opened in Sector-26 of Panchkula in a bid to develop Panchkula as an educational hub informed Sh. Manohar Lal. He said that a primary school has been constructed in Panchkula's Sector-31 at Rs 1.66 crore.

Pharmaceutical industry to come up in Panchkula and Barwala

The Chief Minister said that as Panchkula is the gateway to Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, the state government wants to develop it as an Industrial and Logistics hub. For this, the State Government is in regular touch with industrialists to attract investors from the pharmaceutical industry in Panchkula and Barwala. For this, a meeting has been held with the Baddi Industrial Association and further plans have been prepared.

To develop Barwala as an industrial township and for operationalization of I.T. Panchkula a decision has been taken to operate this I.T Park in collaboration with Software Technology Parks of India.

Developing Morni as a new adventure destination for paragliders

The Chief Minister said that Panchkula is known for its lush green atmosphere and this is the reason that the city has become a major attraction for those visitors who wish to enjoy the beautiful mountain ranges that cross through Panchkula.

“We have developed paragliding facilities at Morni to develop Panchkula as a tourism hub. Paragliding will be started there on the occasion of International Yoga Day on June 20, 2021. As paragliding involves a lot of risk, therefore a provision of insurance has been made by the state government for those who wish to explore this adventurous sport,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.

He said that to promote mountaineering, trekking routes will be made in such a way that youth can easily reach the destination by evening. Besides this, Policy has been formulated for Home Stay or Farm Stay and will be implemented soon.

Sh. Manohar Lal further informed that tourism circuit routes for mountains, mountain trails and paths for mountain biking have been identified. However, these routes will be opened once normalcy prevails.
“Development works in Panchkula at Nada Sahib Gurdwara and Mata Mansa Devi Temple costing Rs 54.52 crore are in progress. Further, a state-of-the-art archaeological museum is being established in Sector-5 of Panchkula to make the citizens of the state aware of the glorious history of Haryana” said Sh. Manohar Lal.

Strengthening road connectivity

Sh. Manohar Lal said that strengthening road connectivity is one of the most essential parts of any plans made by the Government. As Panchkula is well-connected with highways, Haryana Government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure ease in connectivity to residents visiting Panchkula. As part of its road strengthening plan, constant work is being done to widen and strengthen the roads, he added.
He informed that work of connecting Chandigarh Airport to Panchkula is in progress. For this, work regarding construction of a bridge at Ghaggar River is also going on. Similarly, the construction work of Pinjore airstrip is in progress. Soon after its completion, people will be able to take advantage of air taxi service, which will be started for tourist places like Hindon, Shimla, Dharamshala, Kullu-Manali, etc.

Further more, roads are being widened for ensuring smooth traffic to tourist places like Morni and Tikkartal. Besides this, roads connecting Panchkula-Mandhna- Morni-Tikkartal-Raipur Rani are also being widened for hassle-free movement of tourists, while, the construction of new road to connect Ramgarh to Himachal Pradesh will be started soon, shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

Nakshatra, Sugandh Vatikas to promote tourism

The Chief Minister said that constant work is being done for promoting and preserving the lush green atmosphere of Panchkula and for this work is swiftly being done to establish Nakshatra Vatika, Sugandh Vatika and Rashi Van in about 20 acres of land along the Morni road from Panchkula to promote tourism.

Furthermore, plants related to all 27 Nakshatra will be planted in Nakshatra Vatika and detailed information about these plants will also, be made available to the visitors visiting there, he said.
The Chief Minister informed that scented plants will be planted in Sugandh Vatika and nearby farmers will be motivated to plant such saplings so that farmers can earn maximum profit by selling their plants to industries producing aromatic oil.

Similarly, plants related to all the 12 zodiac signs will be planted in Rashi Van and information will be made available to the tourists about these plants and zodiac signs, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

He said that to promote electric vehicles, the first fast e-vehicle charging station has been set up at Akshay Urja Bhawan, Panchkula.

Special focus to develop Pinjore

The Chief Minister said that the development of Pinjore is one of the key parts of the Panchkula’s integrated development plan and for this, a comprehensive plan for setting up a film city to be built there is being chalked out. Besides this, work to include Pinjore Mandi in Panchkula’s development plan is also being done on a priority basis.

He informed that Kisan Bazaar was started in Sector-20 of Panchkula to provide fair price to the farmers for their fruits and vegetables and to ensure availability of fresh fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices to the consumers. Sector 23 dumping ground to be shifted by December 31, 2021

The Chief Minister informed that apart from immediately banning the dumping of garbage in the dumping ground of Sector-23, the government has decided to completely shift this dumping ground in Jhuriwala by December 31, 2021. The process of dumping the garbage on the said site has been started and solid waste management plant has also been installed there.

Haryana becomes front runner in SDG report

The Chief Minister while lauding the dedicated efforts of the officers concerned which helped Haryana to bag the first position in NITI Aayog's think-tank Sustainable Development Goals said that it is a matter of pride that the State has marked highest improvement since the previous report.

" Compared to the previous year this time Haryana has been awarded a 100 per cent score in the category of 'Affordable and Clean Energy. Not only this, Haryana has improved drastically in other categories too including Sustainable Consumption, Zero Hunger etc", said Sh. Manohar Lal.

On this occasion Vidhansabha Speaker, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, Principal Secretary, Forests and Wildlife Department, Smt. G. Anupama, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Sh. Vinay Pratap Singh and other Senior officers were present.