Exclusion of City from Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway Unfortunate – Chhina

Write to PM, Gadkari, wants to Know what transpired in Captain, NHAI Chief Meeting

Amritsar, April 28, (Punjab Post Bureau) – Senior BJP leader Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina today expressed concerns over the exclusion of `holy city of Amritsar’ from the Rs.60,000 crores ambitious project of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway. Calling it an unfortunate, he also raised eyebrows over the recent meeting of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh with Chairman, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

            Chhina who shot off letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari and Chairman, NHAI today said this is highly unfortunate that state government failed to project the significance of Amritsar on the road map of crucial plan. “I wanted PM to intervene into the matter and include Amritsar, which is mecca of the Sikhs and world level pilgrims centre, on the map of the road”, said Chhina.

            He said Amritsar region is highly significant for nation’s economy, commerce and trade, apart from being the topmost pilgrims centre. “The city was part of the original plan but the same has been changed following the meetings of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman Dr. S.S Sandhu with CM”, said he.

            He added, “I don’t know what transpired in the meeting but the state government seems to be playing against the interests of Amritsar region. There is large scale resentment in this area over this and whole Punjab is concerned regarding the step-motherly treatment being meted out to the border region of Amritsar”, said Chhina

            He requested PM and Union Minister to intervene and ensure that the region of Amritsar; the holy city is linked on the significant route map of this important project. “ With this project the City of Golden Temple would be directly linked with the national Capital Delhi on the one hand and holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi on the other”, said he adding that we need smooth flow of pilgrims in the region and economic activity, particularly the religious tourism needed to be boosted further.