Bathinda bus stand project hangs fire

Bathinda, July 10

The project of constructing an AC bus stand on the Bathinda-Barnala road has been lingering for the past 13 years.

In 2009, the state government had sanctioned a 17.5-acre plot for the construction of Rs 60-crore AC bus stand. In 2016, ahead of the Assembly poll, then Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had laid the foundation stone. Later in 2021, then Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal had met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested him to approve a proposal for the modern bus station and terminus for Bathinda city. Since the proposed location is adjacent to the Bathinda military cantonment, it requires a no objection certificate (NOC) from the ministry.

Manpreet had told the minister that all norms had been adhered to and the required papers for the NOC were submitted to the Defence Headquarters. The Army opposed the project in view of security of the cantonment located nearby.

Bathinda MC SE Harpal Singh Bhullar said: “The bus stand project is status quo as our local bodies’ department principal secretary is taking up the matter with the Union Government for an NOC from the Army for the project.”