Punjab Govt Sanctions Rs 3,500 Crore Budget for 19,000 km Road Network Ahead of Infrastructure Push

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in his Independence Day address at Faridkot, announced the approval of a comprehensive budget to construct a 19,000‑km road network, with work set to commence after the monsoon season. The initiative forms part of the AAP administration’s broader development push, also addressing road safety, rural transformation and infrastructure.

During the address, Mann highlighted a significant 48% drop in accidental deaths, attributing it to the deployment of a new 5,000‑member police force, a move lauded by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The government also affirmed its status as the first state to offer ₹1 crore in aid to families of martyred soldiers, extending similar support to the kin of Punjab Police personnel.

Further, Mann detailed plans to rejuvenate village ponds, launch the Punjab Rural Transformation Fellowship with 154 youth appointments, introduce CCTV‑monitored PTMs in schools and roll out a “war against drugs” curriculum for Class XI–XII students in 368 schools. The new Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana, starting October 2, will offer ₹10 lakh health insurance to every family, with both government and 552 private hospitals empanelled.