Amritsar 10 July 2015 (BharatSandesh News):– Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala, patron Amritsar Vikas Manch has demanded the setting up of permanent convention Centre in the holy city on the lines of Delhi’s Pargati Maidan.
In an email to S. Sukhbir Singh Badal deputy Chief Minister, AVM patron reminded him that on the concluded day of the fifth edition of Punjab international Trade EXPO (PITEX) on 14 December 2010, he announced, “Looking at the increase in trade and commerce in the region, the government, in collaboration with the PHD Chamber, will set up a permanent convention centre like Pragati Maidan here in Amritsar so that each year such temporary arrangements do not have to be made for the trade expo,”.
He also stated that, “Places like Frankfurt (Germany) and Dubai (UAE) are thriving only on the basis of being major centers for trade expos. We want to develop our cities on those lines. Amritsar, some 200 km from Chandigarh, and Mohali, some 10 km from Chandigarh, will get permanent convention centres.” At that time, welcoming the announcement Mr. Rajiv Bali, chairman of the Punjab committee of the PHDCCI said, “PITEX-2010 saw nearly 300,000 footfalls. The rush was quite unmanageable on the last two days of the five-day event. This shows that Amritsar holds a lot of potential for trade.
The setting up of a permanent convention Centre will improve things further. A permanent expo Centre here is the need of the hour.” But in five years nothing has been done in this regard and even to acquire land no effort has been made.
