Renaming Mullanpur as New Chandigarh not ethically correct,says Haryana CM

The Punjab government recently announced its decision to rechristen Mullanpur,which is located near Chandigarh, New Chandigarh.

Asked if he would take up the issue with the Punjab government,Hooda said that he had expressed his views on the issue on different platforms. The decision had to be taken by the Punjab government.

This decision of the Punjab government has ruffled feathers in the city as well. Many term it an attempt to cash in on the popularity of Chandigarh. With a large number of real estate projects proposed in Mullanpur,property dealers have set up shops there. Among the people who are purchasing property are those from other states as well as NRIs. Since Chandigarh is one of the most planned cities in the country,the announcement by the Punjab government is being seen as an attempt to project Mullanpur as an extension of Chandigarh. Extensive plans for the area have also been announced.

Talking about the discord between the two states over deciding the name of the international airport that is coming up,the Haryana chief minister said that the Punjab government wanted a different name,but he did not let this happen,and the name was decided as Bhagat Singh Airport,Chandigarh.

The international airport is being constructed as an extension of the existing domestic airport in Chandigarh. While the runway would be the same as present,the terminal is being constructed in Mohali. The Punjab government had proposed the name of the airport as Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Airport. This was opposed by Haryana.

Several years after the foundation stone was laid,the airport is awaiting completion.

Both Punjab and Haryana as well as Chandigarh are partners in the project.

Talking about the Metro project proposed for the Tricity,Hooda said that Haryana had given its approval for it and the project would be started soon. He agreed that with two states and one Union Territory involved,the project would take longer to complete.