Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal went on a foundation stone-laying spree in Mohali, touted as Future City of Punjab, on Tuesday. Sukhbir started the day by launching work on the Central Business District (CBD) in Sector 62, involving an expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore, a state-of-the-art ultramodern air-conditioned bus terminal to come up at Sector 57 at a cost of Rs 300 crore and a multi-specialty cancer hospital in Phase VI costing Rs 113 crore. Within a hurricane tour of two hours, the SAD president also addressed a public rally at Dussehra Ground in Phase VIII.

Sukhbir devoted most of his speech to highlighting the achievements of the present regime while listing major initiatives taken in the fields of education, health, transport, infrastructure development and the power sector.

In a PowerPoint presentation to the media, Sukhbir said the CBD will come up on 250 acres and will be designed by Singapore-based Jurong International. “Rs 35 crore has already been spent on the construction of a six-lane highway to allow smooth access to the biggest business district in the country. This project is expected to generate 40, 000 quality jobs,” he said.

Sukhbir said the 10-storeyed AC bus terminal, with a helipad on the top floor, would emerge as a top commercial centre within next 30 months.

The cancer hospital, to come up near the Civil Hospital, will be set up by Max Group on a public-private partnership basis. Planned to provide super-specialty healthcare in cancer and trauma, this 200-bed hospital will be completed by April 2011. “Five per cent of the gross revenue will be utilised for improvement of hospital infrastructure and catering to poor patients,” said Sukhbir.

Punjab Cooperation Minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh, his son Jasjeet Bunny, Daljeet Cheema, and Morinda MLA Ujjagar Badali also addressed the rally. Mohali-based All India Youth Akali Dal president Kiranbeer Singh Kang, a close aide of Sukhbir, was conspicuous by his absence.