JALANDHAR: Former Punjab minister and Congress MLA Pargat Singh has launched a series of development projects worth around ₹3.50 crore in Daduwal, Kangniwal and Pholriwal villages of Jalandhar, with a focus on sports infrastructure, roads and basic civic facilities.
Pargat Singh inaugurated and kick-started several projects during a visit to the villages, saying that development of rural areas remains an important priority and that residents should have access to modern infrastructure and recreational facilities close to their homes.
The projects include the development of three sports parks, along with road-related works in the three villages. The initiatives are aimed at improving facilities for young people while also addressing long-standing infrastructure requirements in the rural belt.
During his visit to Kangniwal, Pargat Singh interacted with local residents and discussed their concerns regarding roads, sports facilities and other development needs. The MLA said that sports infrastructure can provide young people with better opportunities to participate in physical activities and can help encourage them to stay away from drugs and other social problems.
The development programme also covers Daduwal and Pholriwal, where road and other infrastructure works have been taken up. The projects are expected to improve connectivity and provide residents with better access to basic facilities.
Pargat Singh has repeatedly emphasised the importance of investing in sports facilities in villages and creating an environment where young people have access to playgrounds and organised sporting activities. The latest projects are part of that approach, with the proposed sports parks intended to provide dedicated spaces for local youth.
Residents of the villages welcomed the announcement of the development works and raised several local issues with the MLA. The interaction also provided an opportunity for villagers to seek improvements in roads and other civic amenities.
The projects come at a time when rural infrastructure and employment opportunities for young people remain major concerns across Punjab. While announcements of development projects are significant, their impact will ultimately depend on timely completion, quality of construction and continued maintenance after the projects are handed over to the local communities.
Pargat Singh said that development should not remain confined to urban areas and that villages must receive adequate investment in roads, sports infrastructure and other public facilities.
The ₹3.50-crore development package covering Daduwal, Kangniwal and Pholriwal therefore represents an effort to combine infrastructure development with greater opportunities for rural youth, particularly through the creation of sports facilities.
Punjab Outlook: For villages such as Kangniwal, the real test will now be implementation. Rural residents need projects that are completed on schedule, constructed to proper standards and maintained over the long term. The success of the initiative will ultimately be measured not by the inauguration ceremonies but by whether these facilities become functioning, accessible public assets for the communities they are intended to serve.