Jalandhar, which has been shortlisted in the third list of Center’s flagship scheme, ‘Smart City Mission’, is set to emerge as a sports hub.
In a consultation process conducted from April 2016, more than 55% of Jalandhar population participated out of which 66% of them voted to establish Jalandhar as a sports hub.
To develop the city as a smart city, a study of the plans reveals the envisaged project worth over Rs 1,984 crores. Of which Rs 1,519 crores (77%) would be spent on area based development (ABD) to make 1,010 acres of area ‘real smart’.
The area will include 8,023 households, 4% of the total households in Jalandhar city. This area is around Burlton Park, 63 acres of which are in possession of Jalandhar municipal corporation. This would be developed as sports hub of Jalandhar while also making it an organic living and recreational space.
Further, the rest 23% or Rs 465 crores would be spent on pan city development. Various IT enabled services such as a centrally-controlled public transport system with real-time passenger information system on buses and public safety system including monitoring of water supply and sewerage system with sensors will be initiated to make the city of Jalandhar real smart.
Developing Jalandhar as a smart city and sports hub will create sustainable jobs by enhancing manufacturing base and will create more opportunities by building upon its existing sports facilities.
The city would benefit from taking a strategic approach that will focus on the sports and manufacturing sector.
