Digvijay Singh reiterates commitment towards ‘vision document’
| Date :08-Jul-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
WHILE many continue to predict that senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s political career has come to an end after facing defeat in Lok Sabha elections against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur by over 3.5 lakh votes, the former Chief Minister has refused to bog down and reiterated his commitment towards ‘vision document’ for Bhopal in a press conference on Sunday. During Lok Sabha elections, Singh had released a vision document (blueprint of city development) for Bhopal and had promised to work on it irrespective of the outcome.
“I have discussed the vision document with CM Kamal Nath and he has responded positively,” informed Singh. The development plan includes a six-lane highway between Bhopal and Indore, a 2031 master plan, sports city and tourism, education and logistics hubs. It also includes efforts to decongest the city’s old areas. Calling the Upper Lake a focal point of Bhopal’s development, Singh said measures will be taken to beautify the lake besides ensuring measures to clear lake’s catchment area of encroachment. “We will make sure that concerns of those living inside the catchment area are taken care of,” he said.
Digvijay Singh also added that, “Areas which are yet to become a part of the Municipal Corporation will be taken over by the civic body soon. This will include several areas where we lost in Lok Sabha polls.” Singh backed establishment of a unified agency which could govern development work in place of multiple Government departments. “We will also establish a metropolitan authority for Bhopal. A 50-acre piece of land has been allotted in Barkhera Nathu area in the outskirts of Bhopal where a sports hub is being planned,” added Singh.
He also hit out at the Centre’s smart city project and called it a flawed one. “I have written to the Finance Minister for lowering 18 per cent GST imposed on tutorials. Adding that an education hub was also part of his plans to shift the tutorials from busy areas,” he added. Notably, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh who faced criticism ahead in the run-up to Lok Sabha election for skipping voting in his hometown Raghogarh as he was busy in campaigning said he had applied for getting listed as a voter in Bhopal so that there would not be any issue of using his franchise in future.