CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Governor and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, S.F. Rodrigues, on Monday called for instituting a high level committee of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Administration officers to ensure effective coordination for harmonious development of the periphery of Chandigarh and to achieve a sustainable process of urban transformation by balancing social, economic and environmental goals.

Presiding over a meeting of senior Chandigarh Administration officers, Gen. Rodrigues emphasised that the distinctive character of the City Beautiful must be maintained at all costs while pursuing development strategies.

He said Chandigarh, being the Capital of Punjab and Haryana, catered to the needs of the residents and also thousands of people, especially the employees, coming from the adjoining states for their day-to-day business. This caused a tremendous stress on the services in the city. "The emphasis should be on a clean and beautiful city and there should be no room for any kind of violations or of overriding set rules and procedures."

He asked the officers to make a detailed analysis of the existing infrastructure in different areas, including water supply, and draw up a long-term plan for the future needs of the people in the next two decades. He also asked for preparation of a blueprint of the infrastructure needs and ancillary support systems of the Sarangpur Institutional Area proposed to accommodate the film city, education city, amusement park, biotech park and other institutions in that belt.

While stating that the Administration has the major task of rehabilitation of slum dwellers, the Governor called for a detailed analysis for providing them various basic civic amenities and healthy living in the proposed settlements to be given on rental basis. Also, the planning and development of the industrial area Phase III should be taken up on priority to boost industrial activity in consultation with various industrial associations.

Major thrust

Gen. Rodrigues said a major thrust area of the Administration was to de-congest traffic for which mass rapid transport system was the only answer as a long-term measure.

He said that this process should be further speeded up with the active participation of Punjab and Haryana.

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