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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 25
Former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu continues to stay away from government functioning, although he is meeting party workers and supporters from his constituency Amritsar (East).
The cricketer-turned-politician abstained from a high-level meeting called by Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra to review the progress of ongoing development works being carried out in Amritsar.
Barring Sidhu, Om Parkash Soni, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Dr Raj Kumar Verka and Sunil Datti, all MLAs from Amritsar urban, attended the meeting. Dinesh Bassi, chairman, Improvement Trust, and Karamjit Singh Rintu, Mayor, were also present.
Mohindra said as per the protocol, all MLAs concerned, including Sidhu, were called for the meeting. On being requested by the Mayor to grant more funds to resume work on pending projects, Bassi was asked to release Rs 50 crore to the corporation.
It was disclosed that to facilitate elderly and physically challenged pilgrims who come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, the government intended to install escalators from the parking area to the sarai near the Golden Temple. The Mayor has been asked to check the feasibility of the project. Rintu has been asked to put up signage from the parking area of the Golden Temple to the sarai to guide tourists. Regulating the fares being charged by e-rickshaw operators carrying pilgrims to the Golden Temple was also discussed.
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