CHANDIGARH — Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria held multiple high‑level meetings in New Delhi on Tuesday with the President, Vice‑President and several Union ministers to press for development projects, medical education expansion and flood mitigation measures for Punjab and Chandigarh, an official statement said.
Inviting President to Vijay Diwas; focus on Panjab University
Kataria paid a courtesy call on President Droupadi Murmu and invited her to attend the Vijay Diwas function at the Asafwala War Memorial in Fazilka in December, the statement added. He also met Vice‑President C P Radhakrishnan, who serves as Chancellor of Panjab University, and discussed steps to raise the university's standing with the aim of making it the state's premier institution.
Medical education and a regional medical hub
During talks with Union Health Minister J P Nadda, Kataria sought 36 additional postgraduate seats for the medical college in Chandigarh. The Governor also requested central support of ₹2,000 crore to develop the proposed Chandigarh Regional Medical Hub as a fully government‑funded project, according to the official release.
Technical education and governance of PEC
Kataria urged Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi to consider converting Punjab Engineering College into a fully Centrally Funded Technical Institution (CFTI). He additionally requested that a vice‑chancellor be appointed to PEC — which currently holds deemed university status — in line with the UGC Regulations, 2018, the statement said.
Drug de‑addiction, rehabilitation and employment
In discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Governor raised measures aimed at making Chandigarh drug‑free. Kataria sought central assistance for rehabilitation of persons affected by drug abuse, including skill training post‑rehabilitation and suitable employment opportunities to aid reintegration, the statement reported.
Flood damage and long‑term Ravi river plan
Kataria pressed Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil on the serious damage inflicted by floods of the Ravi river earlier this year in border districts including Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot. He requested a long‑term, sustainable plan to prevent recurring inundation and to find a permanent solution to the problem, the release said.
Cultural and tourism grants
The Governor expressed gratitude to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for recent approvals of central funding for local projects. The statement noted ₹93 crore approved for the Ajj Sarovar project in Kharar and roughly ₹19 crore for creation of a digital museum — approvals intended to boost heritage and tourism infrastructure.
The meetings covered a range of administrative and developmental priorities that the Chandigarh administrator said would benefit both Chandigarh and neighbouring Punjab districts. The official statement did not indicate timelines for approvals or next steps for most requests.
- Medical seats requested: 36 postgraduate seats for the Chandigarh medical college.
- Funding sought: ₹2,000 crore for the Chandigarh Regional Medical Hub.
- Infrastructure approvals: ₹93 crore for Ajj Sarovar and ~₹19 crore for a digital museum.
- Institutional change: Request to designate Punjab Engineering College as a CFTI and appoint a vice‑chancellor per UGC rules.
| Issue | Request / Approval |
|---|---|
| Chandigarh Regional Medical Hub | Support of ₹2,000 crore sought |
| Medical college postgraduate seats | 36 additional seats requested |
| Punjab Engineering College | Make PEC a CFTI; appointment of vice‑chancellor per UGC 2018 |
| Ravi river floods | Long‑term flood prevention plan requested |
| Ajj Sarovar and digital museum | Approvals: ₹93 crore and ~₹19 crore respectively |
Kataria invited the President to attend the Vijay Diwas ceremony at the Asafwala War Memorial in Fazilka.
The Governor's engagements in Delhi combined appeals for immediate resource allocation with calls for institutional reforms and long‑term planning. If the Centre accepts the financial and administrative requests, projects such as the Regional Medical Hub and flood mitigation schemes could affect health, education and disaster resilience across border districts of Punjab and Chandigarh’s urban territory.
Follow‑up on approvals and timelines will be crucial to assess delivery. The official statement did not specify firm commitments from the Union ministers during the meetings.
Gurpreet Kaur, Punjab correspondent
