{Arun Jaitley**}
Amritsar city as I see it
I have campaigned for over two weeks in Amritsar. It is unquestionably one of the most charming cities in India. My past experience of Amritsar has been as a visitor to my grandparents’ home. My subsequent experience has been as a political campaigner who was in-charge of the party campaign in various elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly when I was headquartered at Amritsar.
It is a historical city founded in the sixteenth century. The city has a great religious significance. Sri Harmandir Sahib being located in the city gives it an international importance. The Durgiana Mandir, the Jallianwala Bagh, the Ram Tirath, the Attari border and the Gobind Garh Fort has religion, culture and history written all over. Some gardens in the city have sbeen substantially improved. Amritsar represents the soft power of the State as a religious, historical and trading centre. It has a huge ability to attract people. Tourism will always remain a mainstay economic activity in the city.
I visualize an Amritsar which is connected on all sides by large highways, a city where the internal infrastructure needs to be hugely improved and where basic facilities need to be provided to a section of the people. There are large sections which still require connectivity for water, sewage and proper roadways. Projects under implementation need to be monitored and expedited. Several flyovers and elevated roads have been built in for the city. The lifeline of connectivity through all the flyovers like the Bhandari Bridge need an overhaul. They need to be strengthened and expanded significantly.
The heritage sites of the city need to be preserved and strengthened. The gardens need to be expanded. The greenery of the city can add to its environment. Several old buildings such as the Khalsa College need to be projected at the national level as a symbol of high quality education.
The economy of Amritsar primarily depends on tourism, industry and trade. The main industrial activity has to be around the creation of a textile cluster, the agricultural implements industry, the rice mills, embroidery, jewellery, decorative items and footwear. These clusters need to be supported by the State. The Central Government has a scheme for adding to the infrastructure of the clusters. The trading activity is centered on various items of trade related to the production of the above mentioned items.
The infrastructure for opening up of the border trade has been established. A last push is required to be given to the town to the expansion of the official border trade between India and Pakistan. Industrial activity will always depend on the manufacturing environment in the country and our ability with regard to low-cost manufacturing. Tourism and trade (including international trade) have a singular ability to revive and strengthen the economy of Amritsar.
For tourism to be strengthened, the road, rail and air connectivity has to be facilitated. Direct international flights are the need of the hour. A good airport needs to be better connected. The social infrastructure of Amritsar requires multiple categories of health care — both public and private. The promise of establishing an AIIMS in every State has to be materialized. Amritsar with a legacy of medical colleges could be an ideal location for AIIMS. The expansion of the industrial corridor to Amritsar can add to the spurt in economic activity in the city. This should be accompanied by creation of suburban townships.
The food of Amritsar is an essential part of its soft power. Establishment of Food Streets and a Food Village which opens into the late hour of the evening can add to the charm of the city. A no traffic walkway food street or food village where traditional items of Punjab are sold, can be a great tourist attraction. It can reflect the personality of Amritsar.
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**Arun Jaitley
Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha )
*Disclaimer: The writer is a freelance journalist and the views expressed by the author in this feature are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of INVC.
