Badal announces facelift of Lala Lajpat Rai's birth place

Chandigarh, Sep 10 (PTI) Great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai's

birth place, Dhudike village will soon get an all over face lift

worth Rs 14.39 crore, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced today.

In order to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of great freedom

fighter, this decision was taken by Badal during a meeting of organizing committee, an official spokesman said.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister gave approval for a slew

of development works in this historic village.

Construction of auditorium with balcony having a seating capacity

of 300 persons at a cost of Rs five crore besides installation of

Astroturf in Hockey stadium at a cost of Rs 4.50 crore at Lala Lajpat

Rai Government College (LLRGC) has been approved.

Badal also gave approval of Rs two crore for the infrastructural

upgradation of LLRGC including repair and renovation of existing

college building, construction of new administration block, record

room besides ramp block to facilitate access of specially-abled students to the first floor.

The Chief Minister also directed the Secretary Higher Education

to immediately start these works so as to ensure its completion by

January next.

Acceding to a major demand of the residents of region, the Chief

Minister also gave his nod for strengthening and widening of road

from 10 to 18 feet of link road from NH-95 to Dhudike via Chuhar

Chak of length 8.10 Kms worth Rs 2.55 crore.

He also approved Rs eight lakh to repair approach road within the

village leading to Lala Lajpat Rai Janam Asthan Memorial connecting

the main road besides approving Rs 20 lakh for renovation of Janam

Asthan Memorial.

To facilitate the people to have hassle-free access to village Dhudike

from NH-95, the Chief Minister said that he would soon personally

take up the issue of constructing a new Railway over Bridge (RoB)

on this stretch by the centre.

The Chief Minister also directed the departments of School and Higher Education to organize a series of seminars, symposiums and declamation contests in all schools and colleges across the state to perpetuate the rich legacy of Lala Lajpat Rai through his philosophy, life and works.

Badal hoped this initiative on part of these educational institutions

would help in inculcating a sense of nationalism and patriotism amongst our youth.