Want to make Phagwara a district, says Som Parkash of the BJP

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 23

Having won from the seat for the second consecutive time, BJP MLA Som Parkash has set his targets for the works he has to get initiated in the Phagwara constituency, prime and the big one being getting the district status for Phagwara.

Geographically cut off from its parent district Kapurthala by a distance of nearly 45 km, Som Parkash, who has been PUDA administrator earlier, says, “I believe that the only solution to the problem is having Phagwara as a separate district in which Nakodar, Nurmahal, Phillaur (a cut-off part of Jalandhar) and Behram (part of Nawanshahr) too can be added. I think it will logically be a very good decision and will ultimately benefit residents of all these areas.”

Som Parkash, who is now the only BJP legislator from the Doaba region, says, “In my last tenure, I got the Municipal Corporation status for Phagwara. I even got a separate ADC’s post sanctioned for Phagwara so that people do not have to travel for all their daily administrative requirements. Now, I will place this demand to the new government.”

Shifting of bus stand

Falling under the national highway, the bus stand area of Phagwara remains choc-o-block all the time. The bus drivers do not park the buses inside and, instead, add to the chaos along the highway. The Phagwara MLA says, “There also is a proposal to shift the bus stand. Officials of the National Highways Authority of India have said that the bus stand has been located in a very accident-prone area and needs to be moved. We have to listen to their advice and look for a suitable space for the purpose.”

Tehsil complex to be re-constructed

Peeved over the bad condition of the tehsil complex, Som Parkash says, “The building is much unsafe and we need to demolish and re-construct it at the same site. I will moot this proposal too and seek funds from the government.”

Besides, the MLA also wants to push the case of the completion of an under-construction bridge at Phagwara. “Be it an elevated road or a flyover, it must come up as the residents are having a harrowing time,” he now says.

Need for govt college, skill centre

Som Parkash feels, “The town that has two private universities (GNA University and Lovely Professional University) is without any government college. The students here have the option to only take admission in private colleges and universities for their education. The fee in these institutions is quite high compared to the government colleges.”

He said he would also push the case for setting up of a multi-skill centre at Phagwara which could impart training to youths in 10-12 vocational trades.