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Sukhbir justifies new taxes
Within next two to three years, the roads in Punjab would be as good as in the United States and Canada, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, said here on Tuesday.
Within next two to three years, the roads in Punjab would be as good as in the United States and Canada, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, said on Tuesday.
Justifying the imposition of toll tax on new roads in the state, he said, "If one can afford a car, he should not have any problem paying Rs. 20 as toll tax."
Sukhbir was here to lay the foundation stone of the upgradation of the Rs.240-crore Rupnagar-Chamkaur Sahib-Doraha road.
He said the Punjab government had started projects worth Rs 3,500-crore to strengthen the road network in the state.
He said the new expressways were being constructed, which would change the way people travel. He said the number of accidents would also reduce considerably after the construction of the new roads.
Strongly condemning the armed attack at a gurdwara in Wisconsin, Sukhbir said the chief minister had taken up the matter with the prime minister and had met the US ambassador in this regard.
Sukhbir said he had conveyed the concern of the Punjab government and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on the well-planned attack to the US ambassador.
Demanding a probe into the tragedy, he said the guilty must be punished.
Earlier, inaugurating the project, Sukhbir said Rupnagar was all set to become an education hub. He also announced the four laning of Rupnagar to Jalandhar road, a vital link between the Malwa and Doaba regions. Rupnagar MLA Daljit Singh Cheema also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier on Monday in Patiala, Sukhbir had justified the decision to impose new taxes. "It was the need of the hour for the progress of the state," he said.
Sukhbir said the state was aiming to generate Rs 3,000 crore and would invest it in development works. "The state does not own a factory to generate money. We have to tax the people to provide them the best facilities. We need funds to develop infrastructure," he said.
He inaugurated the Rs 17-crore railway over-bridge near on the Ghanaur Road.
