Cong civic poll manifesto rides on e-bus, growth

Jaipur: Congress on Wednesday released its 25-point manifesto for the urban local bodies’ elections. The ruling party has promised Rs 5,000 crore for development work in 42 cities in the next three years and electric bus services in all the six municipal corporation areas.

CM Ashok Gehlot, deputy CM Sachin Pilot, AICC general secretary Avinash Pande, UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal were among those present at the party office.

UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal said three corporations of Jaipur, Kota and Jodhpur had city bus services, which would be extended to the remaining three corporations of Bharatpur, Bikaner and Udaipur. He said the buses would be converted to battery-operated ones to prevent pollution. Dhariwal said with the financial aid from the Asian Development Bank(ADB), Rs 5000 crore would be spent in 42 cities for the development of drinking water, sewerage and drainage.

He said under the Smart City project, Rs 3500 crore would be invested in Ajmer, Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur in the next two years. The money would be mainly utilised for development of parking, underpass, flyover, heritage development, hospital development and extension, information and technology, sports facilities, drinking water and maintain cleanliness.

He alleged that the Centre had almost stopped funding for the Amrut scheme.