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Speaking to Business Standard, Punjab, Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal said, " Around 66 companies has shown interest in setting up their venture along the Chandigarh-Ambala national highway leading to Delhi. Majority of the companies are in food processing and manufacturing sector. So we have decided to identify atleast 3000 acres acres to assist them. In this regard, I have asked the Chief Secretary to create a land bank near Dera Bassi with four or six-lane roads and other amenities." He added in addition to this the government would focus on areas that include garment exports, electronics hardware, bio sciences, IT, pharma and auto parts/automobiles.
Although the project is at premature stage, so it is too early to say the type of land acquired for the purpose. Senior official in the state department added that it may be a combination of non-agricultural land and agricultural land. They also mentioned that it is too early to say whether the state government would acquire the land for the Industralists or just act like a facilitator to assist them in process.
He said Punjab would create adequate land banks across the state to facilitate investors. He also said that besides the new land bank, the hubs in these areas would be developed in New Chandigarh, Mohali and at few other places. Badal also said that government was contemplating creation of a cluster related to garments at Ludhiana, which would generate opportunities of employment, pushing the state forward in this area.
Sukhbir told the meeting that the government was contemplating setting up regional offices to promote investment. Regional offices for investment promotion would be introduced in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Bathinda, he added.
