Mohali yet to tune into ‘future’ mode

class="">cancer super-specialty and a trauma centre,and a multi-storied air-conditioned inter-state bus terminal-cum-commercial complex.

Besides,two projects — IT Tower (estimated cost Rs 150 crore) and Mohali-Phagwara Expressway (estimated cost Rs 2,000 crore) — have been shelved,as they failed to attract investors.

The expressway project was planned as a six-lane 104.2 kilometre direct link between the international airports in Mohali and Amritsar.

It was one of the dream projects of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal,who had conceptualised Mohali as a ‘Future City’.

Sukhbir’s another dream project,Central Business District (CBD),also remains on hold even a year after its foundation stone was laid.

CBD was to create a work-live-play-shop environment across 250 acres in Sector 62. With an estimated cost of Rs 4,200 crore,the project was expected to attract Rs 7,000 crore investment and generate 40,000 jobs.

Even the state-of-the-art bus terminal project was re-allotted to Gurgaon-based C&C Constructions Private Limited at an upfront payment of Rs 57 crore,after Mumbai-based Akruti City Limited abandoned the project,which was earlier procured for Rs 201 crore.

Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu,managing director of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB),blames recession for keeping investors at bay.

“We have been in constant touch with potential investors. They have started showing interest in making further investment in Punjab,especially Mohali,” Sandhu said.

Sandhu is also Special Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister and holds the charge of Secretary,Housing and Urban Development.

He claimed the five-star hotel and CBD projects have attracted a few investors,who would hopefully take up these ventures very shortly.

But leading investors,on the other hand,find “no future in Mohali,which is bereft of even basic civic infrastructure”.

“Potholed roads,erratic power and water supply,bad condition of parks and markets will prevent any reasonable mind from investing in Mohali,” reasoned leading investor K L Aggarwal.

Another investor,Sanjana Singh,said,“GMADA’s flopped real estate auction recently was testimony of Mohali’s backwardness.”

In the auction held on February 16,eight residential and 33 of the 45 commercial sites had gone unsold.

Projects on hold
* Sports Complex Rs 150 crore
* Expressway around Mohali Rs 1,400 crore
* Punjab Habitat Centre Rs 175 crore
* Institute of Hotel Management Rs 150 crore
* International Convention Centre Rs 200 crore
* Upgradation and beautification of the urban road network Rs 300 crore
* IT Tower Rs 150 crore
* Air-conditioned fruit,vegetable market Rs 50 crore
* Fast food centre Rs 3 crore
* Central Business District Rs 4,200 crore
—These projects were to be based on public-private-partnership,design-build-finance-operate,and design-build-operate-transfer models.