Punjabi diaspora expresses concern over Punjab Govt's differential treatment towards Amritsar
PTC News Desk: Noticing Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s sheer negligence towards the rich historical and cultural significance of Punjab’s Amritsar and not prioritising and availing state owned Airport services, The FlyAmritsar Initiative and the Amritsar Vikas Manch have jointly raised voice and expressed serious concerns over Punjab Government’s differential treatment towards Amritsar, accusing it of adopting double standards and mere lip service for the city.
Their main complaint stems from three separate delegations of school principals which were being sent to Singapore from Delhi airport rather than the State's own Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International airport, which is exacerbated by the lack of a dedicated bus service connecting the airport to the city centre and the other major cities within the State.
Highlighting their concerns in a joint statement, Sameep Singh Gumtala, the Global Convener for the FlyAmritsar Initiative and Anantdeep Singh Dhillon, Overseas Secretary of the Amritsar Vikas Manch, both residents of Amritsar now based in the USA and Canada respectively, expressed their utter dismay at the government’s utilisation of resources.
Punjabi diaspora highlighted that "sending all the delegations of teachers to Singapore so far from Delhi airport rather than utilising our own Amritsar airport, which offers five direct flights a week operated by Singapore Airlines subsidiary Scoot is a setback for city’s aspirations towards developing as a global city. We have been tirelessly advocating for the airport's growth, and this decision of using Delhi airport time and again undermines our efforts. It sends a message that the Mann government does not prioritize the airport within its own State or the development of Amritsar's infrastructure."
Gumtala and Dhillon emphasised that the people of Punjab deserve an explanation for why the government appears to always favor Delhi Airport while neglecting the potential of Amritsar Airport. They noted that while the Punjab Government is taking commendable steps in building more airports in the State including Halwara, encouraging flights from Chandigarh Airport and starting bus services from various cities of Punjab to Delhi Airport, the lack of acknowledgement and support for Amritsar Airport is evident above all. They pointed out that despite handing over 2.5 lakh passengers every month with more than 400 weekly departures and arrivals, Amritsar airport still sans any type of a dedicated bus transportation service.
Enriching rich culture and heritage of Amritsar, Gumtala said, “Amritsar, with its rich historical and cultural significance, has long been grappling with the absence of a dedicated bus service connecting the airport to the city and other parts of Punjab. This glaring gap reflects the government’s neglect of our city’s fundamental needs, leading to a suboptimal travel experience for tourists and travelers.”
In addition to these concerns, Dhillon voiced his apprehensions regarding the suspension of local BRTS services in Amritsar, highlighting the significant inconvenience faced by residents and tourists. He called upon the elected representatives of the region to address these critical issues and urged the government to focus on enhancing the city’s public transport infrastructure to facilitate the daily commute of its citizens.
- PTC NEWS
