BATALA, April 16 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday unveiled a massive development roadmap for the historic city of Batala, announcing projects worth Rs177 crore aimed at transforming urban infrastructure and public services.
The comprehensive package includes Rs95.72 crore for Municipal Corporation works, Rs65.09 crore for road construction by the PWD, and over Rs16.05 crore for Mandi Board initiatives. Highlighting the state’s focus on connectivity, the Chief Minister confirmed the construction of three new bridges over the Hansli, Kasur, and Kotla Moosa drains, alongside a modern bus stand designed to permanently alleviate traffic congestion in the city.
Additionally, a first installment of Rs14.81 crore was released for the establishment of new police lines in the district.
Beyond infrastructure, the Chief Minister delivered a scathing critique of previous regimes, asserting that the people of Punjab decisively ended “three generations of loot” by the Akali and Congress parties in 2022.
He accused former leaders of deliberately framing weak laws concerning religious desecration (beadbi) to shield themselves from prosecution.
Highlighting his government’s legislative progress, Mann pointed to the passage of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which mandates exemplary punishment for such crimes. He further alleged that traditional political families have historically remained inaccessible to the public, focusing on “family survival” rather than the welfare of the state.
Aiming the Akali Dal’s ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra,’ the Chief Minister rebranded it as a “save the family” gimmick, accusing the party leadership of patronizing various mafias and ruining the state’s youth through the drug trade during their tenure. He highlighted that his administration has saved Rs1,462 crore since resuming operations at the Pachwara Coal Mine, contrasting this with the alleged financial mismanagement and “Power Purchase Agreements” of the past.
Mann emphasized that the current government is effectively utilizing taxpayer money to provide 300 units of free electricity, leading to zero bills for nearly 90% of domestic consumers, and has facilitated government jobs for over 65,000 youngsters.
The event also saw the presence of senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who praised the Chief Minister’s governance model, describing him as the most popular leader in the state’s history for prioritizing people over political greed. Sisodia also voiced concerns regarding the state of national democracy. The Chief Minister concluded by urging citizens to enroll in the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, which offers Rs10 lakh in cashless health insurance, and highlighted the ‘Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna,’ which provides monthly financial assistance to women. He reiterated that the large public turnout in the summer heat was a clear testament to the public’s trust in his administration’s “pro-people” agenda.
(UNI)
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