The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has set the stage for municipal elections in Punjab with its bold development promises in Ludhiana and Amritsar. AAP Punjab unit president and cabinet minister Aman Arora on Sunday announced five “guarantees”, each aimed at addressing pressing urban issues in both cities – signaling a transformative vision for their future.
For the industrial city of Ludhiana, AAP has outlined five key guarantees to transform the city. The focus is on cleaning and revitalizing the polluted 'Buddha Dariya', ensuring 100 percent clean drinking water for every household and combating environmental pollution by introducing 100% electric buses with supporting infrastructure. AAP also promised a permanent solution to waterlogging and poor sewage management by equipping the entire city with modern drainage systems. In addition, AAP aimed to eliminate landfills and implement an efficient waste management system, as well as improve road infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion.
AAP has committed to the holy city of Amritsar to deploy 100 electric buses to fight pollution, build a sewage treatment plant (STP) worth ₹ 100 crore to address the city's sewage problems and ensure 100 percent clean drinking water supply to all households. They also plan to provide affordable housing for the poor by developing municipal and government colonies and address the long-standing problem of Tung Bhai Bala drain.
Amritsar: AAP's promise of a clean and green city
AAP's campaign in Amritsar focuses on creating a cleaner, greener and more inclusive city. Arora promised five key guarantees and committed to boosting projects from the first day of an AAP mayor taking office.
Prominent initiatives include the introduction of 100 electric buses to combat pollution and alleviate public transport problems. Depots and charging stations will support this eco-friendly fleet, while expanded parking facilities, including a five-acre site in Jahajgarh and an upgraded parking lot in Saragarhi, will address vehicular congestion.
Arora also highlighted the construction of a Rs 100 million, 50 MLD capacity sewage treatment plant (STP) to address Amritsar's chronic sewage problems, promising to eliminate sewage-related grievances and ensure efficient wastewater management.
Access to “clean drinking water” was highlighted as a fundamental right, with AAP pledging uninterrupted supply to every household. Plans to protect groundwater further underline the party's sustainability focus.
Affordable housing for economically weaker sections of the population was also high on the party's agenda. Arora assured the expansion of municipal and government housing under the Amritsar Improvement Trust and promised the underprivileged a dignified life.
“These are not mere promises but firm guarantees,” Arora said, reiterating AAP's track record in delivering on commitments in Delhi and Punjab.
Ludhiana: Focus on pollution, improving infrastructure
In Ludhiana, AAP's guarantees focused on tackling pollution, improving infrastructure and revitalizing the city's neglected assets. Cleaning and revitalizing the Buddha Dariya, an iconic river that is now nothing more than a polluted drain, is a centerpiece of the campaign. Arora has promised a comprehensive clean-up project to restore its ecological balance and natural beauty, as well as measures to stop industrial waste dumping.
Like Amritsar, AAP also announced plans to introduce 100 electric buses in Ludhiana, supported by charging infrastructure, as part of its strategy to tackle pollution and modernize public transport.
Access to clean drinking water is another guarantee, as AAP is committed to a 100 percent contamination-free supply system. Arora stressed the importance of upgrading water infrastructure to ensure consistent and safe access across the city.
To address Ludhiana's perennial problems of waterlogging and poor drainage, AAP proposed 100 per cent sewerage coverage and advanced drainage systems. These measures aim to provide a permanent solution to flooding and sanitation problems during monsoon.
Another focus is waste management, with Arora ensuring that landfills are converted into usable spaces. AAP plans to introduce comprehensive waste management systems to ensure a clean and garbage-free city.
Traffic congestion, a nuisance for residents of Ludhiana, is being tackled with modern infrastructure. Plans include building four new bus stops and upgrading key roads to optimize traffic flow. “These guarantees are not just election promises but well-planned, people-centric solutions,” Arora asserted, emphasizing the party’s consultative approach in developing its vision.