CHANDIGARH, June 22 — It is now “New Amritsar”, an ultra-modern urban estate spread over an area of 599 acres, which will be developed by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). The proposal for this new urban complex has been approved by Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur.

In a press note issued here this afternoon, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, said that the new urban estate would be between DT Road and the Upper Bari Doab Canal within the municipal limits of Amritsar city.

She said that PUDA had remained a junior partner to the Improvement Trust in the development of Amritsar City but keeping in view the overall historical, religious and commercial importance of the holy city, it has been decided to take up this ambitious project.

While the physical survey of the land in question has already started, it has also been decided to issue a formal notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, pending issue of a formal no objection certificate by the state-level Land Acquisition Board. She said that this urban estate shall be equipped with all modern amenities and fulfil the long-standing demand of the residents of Amritsar for an ultra-modern residential colony.

Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, Chief Administrator, PUDA, said that in order to assess the market demand for plots in the proposed new urban estate it has been decided to carry out a demand survey, details of which will be notified soon.

However, every applicant for a plot measuring 250 sq yards or more shall have to submit a draft for Rs 20,000.The fee will be Rs 10,000 for smaller plots. A unique feature of the demand survey will be that a specific number of plots and houses will be reserved for the members of the public who respond to the survey. This has been done to make the demand assessment exercise more responsive and meaningful and preclude non-genuine applicants. He said that the fee shall be adjusted against the price of the plot in case of successful applicants.

Mr Sidhu further said that unlike the scheme of the Improvement Trust in which there was a huge difference in price between plots of 200 sq yds and 300 sq yds, the PUDA scheme would , as far as possible, have uniform prices. He said the exact price would be notified shortly after the Collector’s rates for the proposed acquisition are received by PUDA.