Gandhinagar: When elections are at the corner, every party is geared up to convince voters repeating old unfulfilled promises in new ways. In the same way Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party have released their manifestos calling them different from others for the upcoming Gujarat civic polls. Let's take a look at what is different in the manifestos and what they will do after winning power. An ETV Bharat special report.
Promise to make Ahmedabad pollution-free
City BJP has announced its ‘Sankalp Patra’ (Pledge) for 2021 in which it has said that if voted to power, it will prepare 2030 plan for the city with new flyovers and underpass so that there are no railway crossings. In the manifesto, it is added that all the city buses will air-conditioned, the number of electric buses will be increased, Ahmedabad will be pollution-free, widows to get to travel by city bus free of charge, no property tax on all the heritage buildings, cricket coaching centre in east Ahmedabad will be established, no slum in the city, new schemes will be introduced for senior citizens, yoga centres in every public garden and Outdoor gymnasium equipment will be installed in the common ground of residential colonies.
Attractive promises for Rajkot city
In its manifesto for Rajkot, BJP has mentioned 12 main points. It has promised handloom, handicraft, yoga centre, cookery classes, cottage industries, indoor games facilities for self-dependent women. For children, it has promised sports ground, modern library, science centre and value-added facilities. For the youth, it has promised Wi-Fi facility, coaching classes for competitive examinations, school for learning foreign languages at a token fee, a youth development committee will be set up in the municipal corporation. For senior citizens, there will be a special park and special facilities in the library. The project of providing drinking water through the pipeline will be completed and water will be provided throughout 24 hours. There will be a separate hawkers’ zone. A happiness park will be created. New city buses will be introduced for school and college students. In addition to basic amenities in the newly added areas of the city, gardens, swimming pool, community hall, an auditorium in the central zone and theatre facilities are to be provided. Automatic drinking water machine will be installed in the main market zone, parking facilities will be provided in crowded areas, plan to set up an imitation jewellery park. Four new food zones will be created. Health centres and public urinals will be modernized. There will be five new underbridge and flyovers in the city. All city roads will be widened, an indoor stadium, gymnasium and yoga centre will be opened. Trees to be planted along the road dividers and plans to have different theme parks. There is a plan to plant 3 lakh trees in the city.
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A plethora of promises to continue its 25 years of rule in the Surat civic body
Besides promising better roads, supply of water and electricity, new gardens, shanti kunj, schools will be set up on a priority basis. Work is on to purify the Tapi river at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore. Measures to stop the drainage water from flowing into the Tapi river will be taken up. Plan to set up new neighbourhood urban health centres so that people can get all types of health care at their doorstep. To stop salinity ingress in ground water sources, a multipurpose conventional barrage will be constructed from Dummas road to Haveli. A theme park and eco-tourism park will be set up along the sea shore at Dummas. The 35-km long beach near Dummas will be developed as tourist spot. In order to ease traffic congestion, focus on mass transportation and increase in the number of e-buses, develop multi-level and mechanized parking systems. The city is going to get an alternative of mass transport through the metro rail. Plan to have modern schools in new and old areas of the city. Old dilapidated school buildings will be redeveloped and modernized. A well-equipped tourist bus service will be introduced for sightseeing in the city. Ancient religious sites along the Tapi river as well as the science centre will be developed as places of tourist attraction. There is plan to provide all basic amenities in labour colonies and to give them a healthy environment. The wind and solar energy projects will be expanded. Disaster management system will be modernized in coordination with government agencies. Plan to have more housing projects under various schemes. Shelters for the homeless will be increased in numbers. People will get pure drinking water. New all-weather roads to be constructed using plastic waste. The use of bicycles by citizens for local transport will be encouraged. The Raj Marg, to be developed as the heritage road will become Surat city’s identity. Number of ponds and playgrounds will be increased. These will be provided with modern facilities to encourage sports. Citizens to access several civic services online following maximum digitization. Plan to have night pavement bazar in different areas of the city.
Bhavnagar Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji’s motto “Let my subjects flourish” used by BJP
Using Bhavnagar Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji’s motto “Let my subjects flourish”, the BJP has provided next five year’s vision in its election manifesto. It seeks to make Bhavnagar neat and clean like Indore with cooperation between the public and institutions. Teams will be formed with the traffic police to manage traffic at main junctions of the city. Rapid development of infrastructure under the town planning scheme. There will be better management system for fire safety. Youth and senior citizens to be provided training in fire safety measures. Under the mission ‘love the nature’, the Victoria garden and park will be developed with help of central and state governments and with the assistance of NGOs. A quick response cell to be formed to attend to problems related to roads, water, lights and drainage. Help of experts will be taken in project implementation with people’s participation. Use of art gallery and auditorium will be provided free for non-commercial use. The work on Phase 3 of Kailash Vatika will be taken up to provide a 510-bed night shelter. Plan to have a solar energy park and solar panels on the rooftops of civic body buildings. Water will be filled in the Bortalav pond so that there is saving of money on drawing water from the Shetrunji dam. Underground drainage will be laid in new town planning schmes.
Contest among four parties in Jamnagar, all promised development
All political parties have promised to undertake various development works in their manifestos. NCP has announced to open call centres in wards to enable citizens take up civic body related problems with the civic authorities. BJP has promised to set two new fire stations in the wake of frequent fire accidents in the city that have been reported in recent past. One fire station to be set up on Lalpur road while the second one in Hapa area. With a view to ease traffic, the work on ring road at Bedi port will be completed. A Bharat Mata temple will be constructed in the city along with an astronomy exhibition. It has promised to follow other mega city model to tacle the problem of stray cattle. Significantly no announcement has been made to address the problems of the new areas added to Jamnagar city.
Congress promises galore to return to power
Congress has issued a pledge of promises and ‘Gujright’ campaign in all corporations. Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda had said his party does not believe in giving false promises like the BJP does. Congress has taken the pledge to solve the burning issues confronting the citizens. Congress said in its pledge that if it is voted to power it promises to provide free education, free parking and free wi-fi zone. It has promised to do away with the contract system of outsourcing of essential services. It will apply purifier on public roads, modernize government schools, provide wi-fi zones in all the six municipal corporations and plan to provide all essential services to the common people.
Aam Aadmi Party to bring Delhi model in Gujarat
Aam Aadmi Party has presented a guarantee card promising to replicate its Delhi model in Gujarat. It has promised free education of international standard, like in Delhi, to all and modernization of all government schools under the management of the municipal corporation. It will start Gujarati, Hindi, English, Marathi medium schools in every ward as needed by the local population. Teachers will be given world-class training. Mid-day meal scheme will be introduced in schools. It will end corruption and will have people-centric civic administration. The budget will be made on the basis of the needs of residential colonies. It will start mohalla clinics and provide free medicines.
