Chandigarh, September 13: Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that continuous efforts are being made to transform Ambala Cantonment. For quick drainage of water, a storm water drainage pipeline was earlier laid in the old Sadar area of Ambala Cantonment at a cost of ₹65 crore. As a result, waterlogging did not occur during the rainy season, and the problem of flies and mosquitoes was also eliminated. Now, our goal is to make the entire Ambala Cantonment free from open drains. We want the entire city to be free from open drains. Therefore, work to lay a storm water drainage pipeline at a cost of approximately ₹58 crore is being started today from Ekta Vihar, which will greatly benefit the people.

 

Sh. Vij said that after completion of this work, the area will be free from open drains. He said that a storm water pipeline is currently being laid from Govind Nagar on Jagadhri Road towards the Saharanpur railway line up to the Tangri embankment. Energy Minister Anil Vij directed Public Health Department XEN Harbhajan Singh to form three to four teams so that the work of laying storm water drainage pipelines could be carried out in the Lal Kurti area, BC Bazaar, Outer Large Road and Ekta Vihar area. He also said that in the Ekta Vihar area, where the foundation stone for the work was laid, the level of the drains should first be corrected and the work then carried out so that rainwater can be drained smoothly during the rainy season. The Energy Minister said that work to lay a storm water drainage pipeline from Jagadhri Road towards the Defence Colony area will also be undertaken, which will make the entire Ambala free from open drains.

 

Sh. Vij said that he has made every effort to make Ambala Cantonment beautiful and developed, and with the strength and blessings given by the people, numerous development works have been undertaken in Ambala Cantonment.

 

*Energy Minister Anil Vij appeals to people to extend cooperation*

 

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that during the laying of the storm water pipeline, the platforms in front of people’s houses will have to be demolished to facilitate the laying of the water pipeline. He appealed to the people to extend their full cooperation in this work. He said that when the storm water pipeline was earlier laid in the Sadar area, the people extended full cooperation, due to which water drainage has improved significantly there today.

 

*Congress neglected city’s development and only tried to take credit: Minister Anil Vij*

 

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that Congress ruled for 60-70 years, with its Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers in power, but instead of giving priority to the development of the city, they only tried to take credit. He said that we constructed an 8-kilometre-long embankment along the Tangri River and connected it to the GT Road. Underpasses and overbridges have been constructed in place of four railway crossings, with only the overbridge at Machhonda remaining to be completed. He said that the Tangri River existed even before our lifetimes, but Congress governments did not strengthen the embankment along the river. As soon as the BJP government came to power, we undertook this work and provided protection from flooding to lakhs of people.

 

He said that now, whenever one or two feet of water accumulates due to rainfall, the Opposition starts a photo shoot. Taking a jibe at the Congress, he said that during the Congress era, boats used to operate in Ambala during the rainy season. The Cabinet Minister, attacking the Opposition on the occasion, said that the Tangri River was dredged to prevent floods, while the capacity of pumps at the Mahesh Nagar Pump House was increased and new pumps were installed.

 

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that ₹22 crore has been approved for lining the remaining portion of the Mahesh Nagar Drain, and the work has already been allotted. The work will begin here as soon as the rainy season ends. The design for the drain has been prepared by IIT Roorkee, which will enable better cleaning of the drain through machines in the future.

 

Anil Vij said that the Central Drain in the Sadar area was closed, which is benefiting the people living there today and has transformed their lives. Earlier, people used to identify the location of their homes by saying that they lived along the drain, but now, the underground pipeline has been laid.

 

*Several projects undertaken for the development of Ambala Cantonment*

 

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that several major projects have previously been undertaken and completed in the city, which are visible today. Listing the projects, he said these include canal water supply, Government College Ambala Cantonment, Bus Stand Ambala Cantonment, Grain Market, Shaheedi Smarak, Science Museum, SDM Office Ambala Cantonment, Civil Hospital Ambala Cantonment, Atal Cancer Care Centre, FIFA-approved Football Stadium, all-weather swimming pool, Gymnastics Hall, Badminton Hall, Bank Square, Municipal Council Office, exercise centres, Subhash Park, NCDC Centre, along with numerous other projects that have been completed.

 

No.IPRDH/2026

 

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(Release ID: 6013)