Punjab FM Harpal Cheema Presents With a ‘zero tax’ Budget

Transformative Step for Punjab's Agriculture and Water Crisis

Naresh Sharma

Chandigarh : Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema presented the Budget for the year 2024-25 in the state assembly. During the budget speech, During the budget speech, Cheema said, “I feel contented that the dream of our Chief Minister to provide last mile connectivity and ensure the canal water till tail-ends has become a reality. This would definitely prove to be trans formative for our agriculture, our dwindling water-table, and would save Punjab from becoming a ‘desert’. More needs to be done, and more will be done by our Government in this regard.”

Cheema said, “As promised by the AAP Government in the past, we have been able to consolidate revenues of the State. The annual growth rate in the State’s Own Tax Revenue has been much higher, i.e., 13%, as against the compound annual growth rate of 8% during 2012-17 and 6% during 2017-22. This shows that delivery depends upon clarity of thought and determination to convert thought into actions.

Our Government promised ‘Rangla Punjab’ and has been focusing on key areas such as Good Governance, Education, and Health. The AAP Government has implemented a series of measures to streamline administrative processes, enhance transparency, and curb corruption.Furthermore, initiatives such as ‘Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwar’, ‘Door Step Delivery of Ration’, and anti-corruption measures underscore our commitment to creating an efficient and effective administration. In addition, ‘AAP ki Sarkar AAP De Dwar’ has been launched, whereby services to more than 8 lakh citizens have been provided through camps organized in villages.

Cheema Highlights Punjab’s Growth and Budget Plans

During the budget speech, Cheema said, Our policies have started to fructify; Schools of Eminence are now a reality and reflect our resolve and commitment to make quality learning accessible to all. The establishment of Aam Aadmi Clinics is no less than a revolution in primary healthcare. These clinics are providing quality, free, and accessible healthcare to the common man. This initiative has been duly recognized, and Punjab has been awarded the first prize in the Global Health Supply Chain Summit- 2023.”

During the budget speech, Cheema said, “As per the Advanced Estimates provided by the Directorate of Statistics, Punjab is growing at a rate of 9.41% in the current year, and the GSDP stands at ₹7,36,423 crore. The GSDP has been estimated to grow at 9% to ₹8,02,701 crore in FY 2024-25.

AAP Government’s sincerity and dedication is once again visible by the notable rise in State’s Own Tax Revenues for the second consecutive year. In the current year, up to January, Punjab’s Own Tax Revenue has grown by 12%.

I propose a total Budget Expenditure of ₹2,04,918 crore for FY 2024-25. The Effective Revenue Deficit and Fiscal Deficit are expected to be 2.77% and 3.80%, respectively, and have improved from the previous figures of 3.13% and 4.12%, respectively.

Now, I would outline the development roadmap along with the proposed sectoral budgetary allocations for various initiatives and programs to be undertaken in FY 2024-25.”

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS 2024-25

Vision for ‘Rangla Punjab’: The budget aims to promote inclusive, balanced, and comprehensive development across the state, reflecting the government’s commitment to creating a vibrant Punjab.
Prioritized Sectors: in the budget The government has prioritized crucial sectors including Good Governance, Education, and Health.
Administrative Reforms: Measures have been introduced to simplify administrative procedures, promote transparency, and combat corruption. Initiatives like “Sarkar TuhadeDwar” and “Door Step Delivery of Ration” are examples of such reforms.
Service Delivery: The “AAP ki Sarkar AAP De Dwar” initiative aims to provide services to citizens through camps held in rural areas, benefiting over 8 Lakh citizens.
Education and Healthcare: Significant strides have been made in education and healthcare sectors, with the establishment of Schools of Eminence and Aam Aadmi Clinics, respectively.
Job Creation: The government has facilitated the provision of 40,437 jobs to deserving youth over the past two years.
Power Subsidy in Agriculture: An allocation of ₹9,330 crore has been made for power subsidy in agriculture to support farmers.
Sports Policy and Recognition: A new Sports Policy has been enacted, boosting prize money for athletes. Punjab received recognition at the Global Health Supply Chain Summit-2023 for its healthcare initiatives.
Farishtey Scheme: The government has initiated the ambitious “Farishtey Scheme” to offer free treatment to victims of road accidents, aiming to save lives.
Road Safety Initiatives: The establishment of the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) aims to enhance road safety statewide.
Water Supply and Sanitation: Punjab has achieved complete coverage in delivering tap piped water supply amenities to rural households. Moreover, it secured the top position in the North Zone during the Swachh Survekshan 2023
Pilgrimage Scheme: The Punjab Mukhyamantri Nishulk Teerth Yatra yojna provides Punjabis with the chance to embark on a complimentary pilgrimage to diverse religious sites across the nation.
Revenue Enhancement: The “Bill Leyao Inaam Pao” scheme and other revenue enhancement measures aim to improve revenue generation across various departments.his initiative has facilitated the upload of 60,000 bills and the distribution of prizes totaling ₹60 lakhs. Additionally, several other measures aimed at revenue enhancement are currently underway across various revenue-generating departments.

These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to holistic development and addressing the needs of its citizens in various sectors across Punjab.

Total Budget Expenditure- 204917.67 crore for FY 2024-25

Estimates of Revenue Expenditure – 127134.33 crore which (growth of 3.57% over RE)

Effective Capital Expenditure– Rs. 8399.09 crore

Additional CAPEX Project through PIDB – Rs. 1000 crore

Effective Revenue Deficit- 22244.08 crore i.e. 2.77% of GSDP

Fiscal Deficit- 30464.92 crore i.e. 3.80% of GSDP – well within the range of permissible limits

Effective Outstanding Debt –

Items	2022-23 (Accounts)	2023-24 (RE)	2024-25 (BE)
Effective Outstanding Debt	293729	323135	353600
As % of GSDP	43.64%	43.88%	44.05%

GSDP at current prices has been pegged to grow at 9%in FY 2024-25; Government of India has estimated a growth of5%.

BUDGET ALLOCATION TO MAJOR SECTORS

Sectoral Allocations	Rs in crores			BE as % of Total Expenditure
Sectoral Allocations	FY 2023-24 (RE)	FY 2024-25 (BE)	% Growth	BE as % of Total Expenditure
Education (School and Higher Education)	16058	16987	6%	11.5%
Health & Family Welfare	4646	5264	13%	3.6%
Social Welfare and Justice	8900	9388	6%	6.3%
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs	1008	1072	6%	0.7%
Employment Generation and Training	100	179	80%	0.1%
Sports and Youth Services	232	272	17%	0.2%
Medical Education and Research	862	1133	31%	0.8%
Technical Education	481	525	9%	0.4%
Agriculture	13236	13784	4%	9.3%
Infrastructure*	22161	24283	10%	16.4%
* includes- Department of Water Resources; Local Government; Power; Public Works; Rural Development and Panchayats; Transport; Housing and Urban Development; Water Supply and Sanitation

Own-Tax Revenue-

Items	2022-23 (Accounts)	2023-24 (RE)	% incr./ decr. in RE (2023-24) over Account (2022-23)	2024-25 (BE)	% incr./ decr. in BE (2024-25) over RE (2023-24)
Own Tax Revenue	42243.18	51400.00	21.68%	58900.00	14.59%
GST	18127.84	22500.00	24.12%	25750.00	14.44%
VAT	5636.87	7500.00	33.05%	8550.00	14.00%
State Excise	8437.18	9900.00	17.34%	10350.00	4.55%
Stamps and Registration	4226.54	4600.00	8.84%	5750.00	25.00%
Taxes on Vehicles	2673.56	3300.00	23.43%	4350.00	31.82%
Electricity Duty	2887.64	3100.00	7.35%	3500.00	12.90%
Others	253.55	500.00	97.20%	650.00	30.00%

Non-Tax Revenue-

Items	2022-23 (Accounts)	2023-24 (RE)	% incr./ decr. in RE (2023-24) over Account (2022-23)	2024-25 (BE)	% incr./ decr. in BE (2024-25) over RE (2023-24)
Non- Tax Revenue	6231.94	10051.30	61.29%	11246.33	11.89%
Miscellaneous General Receipts	2827.63	4510.00	59.49%	3843.22	-14.78%
Punjab Roadways	69.34	250.00	260.54%	400.00	60.00%
Housing and Urban Development	149.04	2020.00	1255.34%	2530.00	25.25%
Others	3185.91	3271.30	2.68%	4473.11	36.74%

Items	2022-23 (Accounts)	2023-24 (RE)	% incr./ decr. in RE (2023-24) over Account (2022-23)	2024-25 (BE)	% incr./ decr. in BE (2024-25) over RE (2023-24)
Share of Central Taxes	17163.65	19958.16	16.28%	22041.48	10.44%
Grants-in-Aid from Centre	21976.84	17530.27	-20.23%	11748.38	-32.98%

AGRICULTURE

budget Allocation of ₹13,784 crore has been earmarked for the agriculture and allied sectors in FY 2024-25.
₹575 crore have been allocated for various Crop Diversification Schemes.
“Mission Unnat Kisan” has been launched in the previous year to provide timely technical information to the farmers.
Provided 33% subsidy on cotton seed to approx. 87,000 farmers.
For value addition to Agriculture and Horticulture crops- PAGREXCO ₹50 crore.
Improving Agriculture through diversification with SIDBI assistance ₹250 crore.
Power subsidy as commitment to our “Annadatas” to farmers earmarked- ₹ 9,330 crore.
Soil & Water Conservation including 2 New NABARD Projects-₹194 crore.

HORTICULTURE

“Punjab Horticulture Advancement and Sustainable Entrepreneurship (PHASE)” initiative to improve product quality and develop Horticulture crop clusters.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRY AND FISHERIES

Appointed 326 Veterinary Officers and 503 Veterinary Inspectors during last two years.
New fish seed farm at village Killian Wali district Fazilka has been established.
3,233 acre brought under fish culture.
River ranching programme initiated- 3 lakh fish seeds stocked in river bodies.

CO-OPERATION

“Mission Phulkari” started to train village-level artisans
Inaugurated new facility at Verka Ludhiana Dairy for end-to-end automated milk production.
Liquid Milk Processing and Packaging Unit at Verka Ferozepur Dairy inaugurated.
New Automatic Unit for processing and packaging of fermented products at Verka Jalandhar Dairy .
₹467 crore released to sugarcane farmers .
₹390 crore earmarked in the upcoming year.
First 14 MW Co-Gen plantsstarted at Bhogpur Co-operative Sugar Mill.
₹ 24 crore for setting up a new Ethanol project at Gurdaspur Co-operative Sugar Mill.
Computerization of State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank and PACS ₹50 crore.

FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE

20 lac saplings planted in area of 5,735 hectares.
“Establishment of Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Scheme” for undertaking mitigation activities.
₹263 crore allocated for supporting forestry efforts.

SCHOOL EDUCATION

Aim is not ‘literate Punjab’ but ‘educated Punjab’.
Regularisation of 12,316 teachers, recruitment of 9,518 teachers.
Skill up gradation of Principals and Headmasters,
Improvement of security and safety measures in schools.
Installation of more than 12,000 internet connections.
Around 4,300 toilets in the schools repaired and timely delivery of books to students.
Budgetary outlay of ₹16,987 crore (11.5% of Total Expenditure).
constructed boundary walls in 2563 schools and repaired in 3,055 schools.
For Schools of Eminence –₹100 crore. 14 schools of Eminence started and 118 schoolsundergoing transformation. .
For Schools of Brilliance- ₹10 crore – To transform 100 Government Senior Secondary Schools
For School of Applied Learning-₹10 crore To construct Hi-tech vocational labs in 40 schools.
For School of Happiness- ₹10 crore-To create a nurturing learning environment for
young students aged 3 to 11.
Mission Samrath-₹10 crore – To imbibe essential skills to Primary and Upper Primary students.
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan – ₹ 1,593 crore
For providing Mid-Day Meal to 16.35 lakh students –₹467crore
For free books, repair and maintenance of schools- ₹140 crore
For upgradation of infrastructure and installation of roof-top solarpanels in Government Schools- ₹160 crore
Financial Support for Upkeep of Government Schools- ₹82 crore
For providing uniforms to pre-primary class students- ₹35 crore
Punjab Young Entrepreneur Programme- ₹15 crore

HIGHER EDUCATION

RashtriyaUchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA): ₹80 crore
For improvement of infrastructure; sports facilities; libraries; skill
orientation programmes – ₹10 crore.
CM Scholarship for Giving Concession In University Fee- ₹6 crore
For providing Sanitary Napkins- ₹5 crore.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

05 Government Polytechnic colleges for Girls converted into co-educational institutes.
180 MOUs operationaland 2760 students trained under Dual System of Training.
Additional courses to be introduced based on local demand.
An allocation of ₹ 525 crore to support future efforts of the Department.

MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College, Amritsar and Tertiary Cancer Center at Fazilka constructed at a cost of ₹114 crore and ₹45 crore.
Established “CM Di Yogshala” at Guru Ravidas Ayurveda University, Hoshiarpur.
As promised Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences at S.A.S Nagar (Mohali) completed-₹ 18 crore.
Up gradation of Government Medical College, Patialaat cost of ₹110 crore .
Works on the medical college at Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur; Kapurthala; Malerkotla and Hoshiarpur to start.
An allocation of 1,133 crore in FY 2024-25 for Medical Education and Research.
Special provision for developing a girls’ hostel at Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala.

GRANT-IN-AID TO UNIVERSITIES

₹1425 crore allocated for providing assistance to various Universities and its constituent colleges.
₹40 crore for research related and other infrastructure at Punjab Agricultural University(PAU).
₹40 crore for Hostel construction at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

SPORTS AND YOUTH SERVICES

New Sports Policy increased the prize money for national and international medal winners.
“Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan” events were organized to re-discover the sports spirit of Punjab.
Awards of₹54 crore distributed to 14728 players.
Jobs provided to 11 sports players- 4 in PCS and 7 in PPS.
Stipends doubled of outstanding sportspersons and budding sportspersons.
1,000 sports nurseries for approx 60000 sports person to be established. 250 sports nurseries being established in the 1st phase with initial outlay of ₹50 crore.
For Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University- ₹34 crore.

HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

budget Allocation of ₹5,264 crore FY 2024-25 for Health and Family Welfare
829 Aam Aadmi Clinics established and many more to come.
80 types of medicines and 38 diagnostic lab tests provided free of cost at these clinics
More than 01 crore patients have availed treatment and more than 31 lakh diagnostic lab tests conducted.
Allocation of ₹249 crore in FY 2024-25 for Aam Aadmi Clinics.
As promised “Farishtey Scheme” launched to encourage common people to come forth and help accident victims . people helping incentivized with cash rewards and provided immunity from legal complications and police inquires. Intial allocation of ₹20 crore.
For Ayushman Bharat- Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana- ₹553 crore
For de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across the State -₹70 crore
Punjab Urban Health Infrastructure-₹ 150 crore for Infrastructure Upgradation in 20 district Hospitals.
For Infrastructure upgradation and strengthening of Rural SDH; 7 MCH; 58 New Ambulances etc- 100 crore.

EMPLOYMENT GENERATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Budget outlay of ₹179 crore in FY 2024-25 for the implementation of various schemes of training and skill development
For initiating “Punjab Hunar Vikas Yojana” and strengthening C-PYTE training centres- ₹32 crore

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE

‘Sarkar VyapaarMilni’ initiative stands to facilitate direct engagement with businessmen across Punjab.
The Invest Punjab Business First (IPBF) Portal has been strengthened and integrated with National Single Window Portal to enhance Ease of Doing Business (EoDB)
Green stamp papers introduced which expedite industrial project clearances by streamlining sale deed registration.
₹3,367 crore, including subsidized power, has been provisioned in the current year for Industries and Commerce.

GOVERNANCE REFORMS

Launched flagship programme “Sarkar TuhadeDwar” for Door-Step Delivery (DSD) of Government to Citizen (G2C) services to Punjab residents.
Centralized Admission Portal implemented in the Department of Higher Education through which approx. 1.5 lakh students were admitted in around 300 colleges in previous year.
Introduced a single unified platform for citizens to submit their grievances. More than 90% grievances, totaling 2+ lakhs, received till now have been already resolved.

FOOD, CIVIL SUPPLIES & CONSUMER AFFAIRS

₹1,072 crore allocated for undertaking various initiatives in the department.
Online linking of Mandis with Rice Mills to bring more transparency and optimize expenditure.
Integration of Anaaj-Kharid portal has been done with PSPCL portal for monitoring power consumption of rice mills, and to curb bogus purchases and recycling of PDS rice.
Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) mandated for wheat and paddy transport, and gate passes for pickup from storage points/mills are generated online through Anaaj-Kharid portal.
800 Model Fair Price Shops (MFPS) to be established through MARKFED for streamlining wheat conversion and doorstep delivery of packaged atta. – ₹250 crore

REVENUE REHABILITATION AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Budget outlay of ₹1,573 crore in current year.
For loss of crops/ livestock/damage to the houses due to widespread flooding, compensation provided in FY 2023-24 – ₹490 crore.
Extensive efforts for digitization of cadastral maps in villages and revenue records in Tehsils/Sub Tehsils and creating a digital database.
For the construction and repair of District Administrative Complexes, Tehsils, Sub-Tehsils, and Sub-Divisional Complexes- ₹150 crore

NRI AFFAIRS

4 “NRI Milni’ programme” organized across various districts.
“E-Sanad” portal for enabling NRIs to digitally sign and verify documents required by foreign embassies.
Online portal developed for providing NRIs with a platform to submit complaints and suggestions.

DEFENCE SERVICES

An Budget allocation of ₹ 77 crore for Defence Services Welfare
Fulfilled the promise of release of ex-gratia grant to martyrs’ families.
Pension of war widows increased from ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 per month and that of war jagirs to be doubled from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 p.a.

TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

₹166 crore for Tourism & Cultural Affairs,
₹30 crore- for construction & maintenance of war memorials
₹30 crore- for branding of tourism in Punjab.
The Punjab Tourism Summit and Travel Mart 2023 was held at S.A.S Nagar (Mohali) with the aim to promote Punjab and boost tourism.
‘Rangla Punjab’ Mela in Amritsar served as a forum promoting our culture and literature.
Under PARSHAD Scheme, development works have commenced in Sri Chamkaur Sahib. Efforts are being made to build a first and unique Turban Museum and Sri Anandpur Sahib
“Ecotourism activities in various wildlife areas / Birs of Punjab” at a cost ₹25 crore

HOME AFFAIRS, JUSTICE & JAILS

For maintenance of law and order, ₹10,635 crore was allocated.
Sadak Surakhya Force- Top-of-the-line vehicles provided by the Government, an unmatched feat by any other State.
Out of 1,993 vehiclespurchased in the last five years for the police personnel, 1,396 vehiclesprovided in the last two years.
Partnership with IIT-Ropar to establish AI-ML (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) lab for sophisticated crime analysis and address law enforcement challenges.
827 sub-inspectors, 787 head constables, 144 civilian support staff have been given appointment.
More than 4,100 tabs and 4,300 phones procured and distributed to Investigating Officers for CCTNS project.
Would modernizecorrectional facilities andinfrastructural facilities related to police administration in the nextfinancial year.

SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

An allocation of ₹9,388 crore in FY 2024-25
For providing social security pension across different categories- ₹5,925 crore
Poshan Abhiyaan; Ashirwad Scheme; Accessible India Campaign; Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana- ₹1,053 crore
Schedule Caste Sub-Plan – ₹13,844 crorei.e 35% of total Development Budget.

ROADS AND BRIDGES

Outlay for Roads & Bridges- ₹2,695 crore
For construction of roads and bridges under PMGSY-III – ₹600 crore.
NH (original works) road length of 31 km upgraded in previous year- ₹177 crore
22 km road has been upgraded under CRIF- ₹40 crore
Up gradation of 176 km of road- ₹199 crore
For the construction of bridges between Khera Kalmot and Bhalladi and Bela Dhyani and Ajauli- ₹30 crore

WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION

Allocation of ₹1,549 crore for various projects- Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), replacement and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and for surface-water based scheme.
Arsenic and Iron Removal Plants (AIRPs) have been installed in 685villages
Household purifiers and community water purification plants have been distributed and installed in 170 border villages. Total investment of ₹133 crore.

WATER RESOURCES

New Malwa canal project aims to cover approximately 1,78,000 acres, benefiting the districts of Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Muktsar.
Pond filling process has started in the long awaited Shahpur Kandi Dam project.
new Malwa canal project. This initiative aims to coverapproximately 1,78,000 acres, benefiting the districts of Bathinda,Faridkot, Ferozepur and Muktsar.
Create an additional irrigation potential of 37,173 hectares as well as intensive irrigation of 1.18 lakh hectares area under Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) system.
Prioritized works of lining of water courses and works amounting to ₹80 crore.
Allocation of ₹143 crore for undertaking new projects- construction/ re-modeling and lining/ re-lining works in FY 2024-25
₹150 crore for completion of relining of Rajasthan and Sirhind feeder.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Swachh Survekshan 2023 – Punjab has achieved 1st Rank in the North Zone.
Budget of 6,289 crore for the development of the local urban areas.
With financial assistance of ₹225 crore, 30,000 houses have been completed.
Allocation of ₹510 crore in FY 2024-25 for completing the remaining houses.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)- ₹394 crore proposed.
For Swachh Bharat Mission; National Urban Livelihood Mission; Punjab Municipal Development Fund- ₹538 crore.
Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)- infrastructure projects amounting to ₹322 crore with the assistance of National Housing Bank.
E-buses would soon run in the cities of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala.
₹900 crore is proposed for infra-projects to be undertaken by PIDB across.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATS

Budget Allocation of ₹ 3154 crore in FY 2024-25 for RDP.
More than 12,000 acres of land were freed from illegal encroachment, largely handed over to its rightful owners, the Panchayats.
MGNREGS: ₹ 655 crore for providing employment.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana: ₹ 20 crore
National Rural Livelihood Mission: ₹ 120 crore
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan: ₹ 20 crore

MINING

Operational a total of 60 Public Mining sites in 3 Phases.
Another 16 sites are expected to be launched soon in the State.
“Commercial Mining Sites” are being auctioned involving 40 clusters with 67 mineral-bearing sites.
100 clusters of Commercial Mining Sites in the State in the upcoming year to be auctioned.
To redress concerns raised by crusher unions, notified “The Punjab Crusher Policy” to further reform the Crusher industry, soon launching an initiative called “Public Crusher Units”.

TRANSPORT

Budget of 550 crore for the transport sector with ₹25 crore for ‘Mukhmantri Tirath Yatra’
Launched the Electric Vehicle policy ₹10 crore in FY 2024-25.
Vehicle scrapping facility in Ludhiana and Morinda has already started working exemption up to 25% in Motor Vehicle Tax being provided to new non-transport vehicles.
11 crore women of the State have availed free bus travel facility during the current year.
An allocation of ₹450 crore has been provided in FY 2024-25 for continuing this service.

POWER

Government has purchased the former GVK Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power plant, now renamed Shri Guru Amardas Thermal Plant.
A remarkably low cost of ₹1080 crore, equating to ₹2 crore per MW, stands in stark contrast to the typical cost of ₹8.5 crore per MW for a new thermal plant.
Several key initiatives are underway, including the construction of a new 400 kV substation in Ropar. Additionally, efforts are being made to strengthen substations at Dhanansu and BehmanJassa Singh, alongside the imminent commissioning of a 220 kV substation at Sherpur (Ludhiana).
90% of domestic consumers are receiving zero electricity bills.₹7,780 crore has been provided in FY 2024-25 providing free power of 300 units per month .
To strengthen the workforce 4,575 candidates have been recruited.

NEW&RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Installed 17 MW solar rooftop plants, 811 solar water pumping systems, and 10,218 solar street lights.
50 MW canal top project; installation of 10,833 solar street lights; 220 MW solar power plants and 20,000 Agriculture Off-Grid Solar Pumps, etc.

CIVILAVIATION

A new air terminal at Adampur around ₹150 crore has been completed.
Works related to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Airport at Halwara completed, flights from both of these airports are expected to start soon.
Two flights to Kuala Lumpur and one to Milan have been started from Amritsar.
Steps are being taken for increasing the air connectivity between Punjab and European countries.
One multi-engine aircraft and two simulators are being procured for the Patiala Aviation Club and Amritsar Aviation Club.

REVENUE AUGMENTATION

Taxation Department has collaborated with IIT, Hyderabad to mine data related to taxation.
Our Tax Intelligence Unit and increase in the compliance rate. Further, our innovative scheme “Bill Leyao Inaam Pao” has also delivered results. Almost 60,000 bills have been uploaded and prizes worth ₹60 lakhs have been distributed.
Many other revenue augmentation measures are underway across.

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