Former IAS officer and BJP Punjab General Secretary Dr. Jagmohan Singh Raju has written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, urging the state government to send a proposal to the Centre for including Amritsar in the City Economic Region (CER) scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Dr. Raju stated that inclusion under the CER initiative would significantly boost Amritsar’s multi-dimensional development and create new opportunities for investment and employment in the district.
Referring to the newly announced scheme, he noted that under the initiative introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, selected metropolitan cities and urban regions would receive financial assistance of up to ₹5,000 crore over five years.
Highlighting Amritsar’s potential, Dr. Raju said the city is globally recognized as a major religious and tourist destination, attracting an average of nearly one lakh visitors daily. He pointed out that the city is home to prominent landmarks including Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Sri Durgiana Temple, Shri Ram Tirath (Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath), Bhagwan Valmiki Ashram, Jallianwala Bagh, and the Attari Border, along with several important cultural, strategic, archaeological, and historical sites.
He further emphasized that Amritsar is also a significant industrial and commercial hub with large, medium, small, and micro enterprises contributing to the economy of Punjab and the country. The city is particularly known for carpet manufacturing and other textile industries.
Dr. Raju added that in light of India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom and the European Union, as well as the proposed FTA with the United States, Amritsar’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) could be prepared to compete in global markets.
He stated that inclusion in the CER scheme would strengthen tourism infrastructure, MSME clusters, logistics networks, and skill development initiatives. This, he said, would enhance employment generation and support long-term economic growth.
Dr. Raju urged the Punjab government to take necessary steps and forward a formal proposal to the Centre, seeking priority inclusion of Amritsar under the CER scheme.
