10 Point Growth Agenda to make Chandigarh USD 15 billion economy shared with Chandigarh Administration
CHANDIGARH: Talking about the suggestions, Dr SPS Grewal, Chairman, CII Chandigarh UT said “Hon’ble Prime Minister of India has set a target for Indian economy to attain USD 5 trillion benchmark by the year 2024-25. To attain this target, the UT of Chandigarh also needs to grow in tandem with the national economy or may be even at a much higher rate of growth compared to national average. In this backdrop, CII is of the view that UT Chandigarh can become USD 15 billion economy by the year 2024-25.”
Furthermore, Dr Grewal said that Chandigarh should be looked as Greater Chandigarh Region, i.e., incorporating all the bordering districts while preparing any futuristic plan in consultation with Government of Punjab and Haryana. This will certainly help in achieving the goal of USD 15 billion or may be over passing it. He suggested that like NCR Planning Board under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government of India which work towards planning and development of NCR cities, there is a need to have a Greater Chandigarh Planning Board on similar lines.
The highlights of CII suggestions include:
- Increased allocation on creating infrastructure: Increase in capital expenditure on roads & transport and Urban Development will promote a conducive environment for development of Chandigarh as a Smart City
- The flyover to be built from near the GMCH-32 roundabout up to the railway overbridge near Hallomajra on Dakshin Marg after passing over Tribune Chowk. CII is of the view that flyover should be constructed till Zirakpur for smooth flow of traffic looking in future growth of motor vehicles in and around Chandigarh. In this regard, it is suggested that the construction of flyover is taken up at the earliest
- Promoting E-mobility by coming up with a suitable e-Vehicle Policy
- Administration along with the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana may work to construct outer ring roads to restrict entry of transit vehicles
- The proposed Cargo and Logistics Park around the vicinity of Chandigarh Airport be expediated for promoting Chandigarh as a hub of logistics
- Chandigarh boosts of presence of many reputed professional, medical and engineering institutions. In order to retain Chandigarh’s position as an educational hub of North India, CII recommends the Setting up of world class Skill Development Institutes on the lines of Institute of Technical Education, Singapore which provides pre-employment training to secondary school leavers and continuing education and training to working adults.
- Bridging the Skill gap through introducing courses in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented/ virtual reality (AR/ VR) and Blockchain.
- The Chandigarh Administration can envision creating a platform for innovation through collaboration with many excellent research institutions based in the city and the Industry. This platform will link research institutions, academia and industry along with venture capitalists, angel investors and incubation funds. This initiative can cover setting up of a Start-up Hub (similar to T-Hub of Telangana), on a public/ private partnership mode between Chandigarh Administration and the key industry present in the city.
- Chandigarh Administration may consider setting up 2 to 3 healthcare incubation centers in the city. These incubation centres may be used as multispecialty clinics, wherein Post Graduate Medical Professionals with 2 to 4 years of experience can practice (in a plug & play environment) with common facilities such as diagnostic lab, CT centres, waiting lounge etc. This will go long way in making Chandigarh as Medical Hub of North India
- CII suggests allowing Nursing home in the residential areas. Healthcare incubation facilities or multi-specialty clinics with plug and play facilities. Also, CII suggest to position Greater Chandigarh Region as Medical Tourism Hub of North India
- Owing to the geographical location, Chandigarh serves as a gateway to Punjab, Haryana and the hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Going forward, the Chandigarh Administration can develop Chandigarh as a Weekend/ Getaway tourism destination.
- In long-term, developing Chandigarh as Tourism Destination may be initiated now, so that once the pandemic is over, business starts as usual. Destination Chandigarh as tourism center will help conversion of tourists, who uses Chandigarh as transit to stay put in the city for longer duration.
Mr Manish Gupta, Vice Chairman, CII Chandigarh UT said “the aforementioned recommendations, if implemented, may help in positioning Chandigarh as Smart, Sustainable and Developed Union Territory.”