Dr G.S Sandhu Advisor to Rajasthan Cricket Association
By Amrit Pal Singh Brar
Jaipur, 17 November 2019: Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has appointed retired senior bureaucrat Dr Gurdial Singh Sandhu as Advisor for development of new cricket stadiums in Rajasthan. Dr G.S Sandhu is a close confidante of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and has served the state in various capacities such as Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Services Secretary in the Central government.
A PhD in Banking, Dr G.S Sandhu has a vast administrative experience in Industrial Infrastructure & Investment and Urban Infrastructure & Housing sector. Key projects and schemes planned and implemented by him are Jaipur Metro Rail Project, City Tunnel across Aravali Hills, Jaipur Ring Road Project and Affordable Housing Policy. This Affordable Housing Policy model was recommended by Union government to be studied as exemplary policy and it was thereafter studied by governments of Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, etc.
He has successfully implemented several affordable housing projects on PPP basis, about 1, 00,000 houses constructed by private sector and allotted by Rajasthan state government agencies without any budgetary outgo from the government.
Dr Sandhu undertook a major program of making master plans for all towns in Rajasthan, 100 new electronically accessible master plans were prepared during his tenure and all towns in Rajasthan now have master plans. He also got constructed about 50 flyovers and Railway over-bridges (Robs)
He is instrumental in establishing India’s first Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at Jaipur in 1997 during his tenure as MD as RICCO. He also established Centre for development of Stones (CDOS) for promotion of stone industry (PPP initiative) and set up 50 new industrial parks in Rajasthan. Stone Mart exhibition was started for promotion of stone industry.
During his tenure as Joint Secretary in department of Pharmaceuticals, he formed and launched the Jan Aushdi Scheme for selling generic medicines in 2008. First Jan Aushdi Store was opened in Amritsar in 2008. It is one of the most successful schemes of the government. He was also instrumental in opening six new NIPERS in country at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati Rae Bareilly and Patna.
During his tenure as Secretary in Finance department in central government, he formulated and implemented the prestigious “Pradhan Pantri Jan Dhan Yojana” scheme, entering the Guinness Book of World Records. It was launched on 28 August 2014. He also reviewed major stalled infrastructure projects, particularly in the road and power sector with the banks from the financial point of view to overcome hurdles in implementation. He took various steps to improve the system of recruitment of MDs and EDs in public sector banks.
Speaking with this reporter, Dr G.S Sandhu said “Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has planned to build a new international level Stadium at Jaipur. Similarly a new Cricket Stadium is to be built at Udaipur and the existing Jodhpur Cricket Stadium needs to be upgraded as per the international standards and guidelines of the BCCI”. The state government has allotted land at Jaipur and Udaipur for developing new Cricket Stadiums disclosed Dr Sandhu.
Dr Sandhu said “My job is to execute these new projects and oversee their progress. As Sawai Man Singh stadium at Jaipur has inadequate infrastructure to cater to the requirements for international tournaments as laid down by BCCI, and it doesn’t have needed amenities for the spectators for enjoyable experiences of international matches”. We will provide the best infrastructure in these new stadiums added Dr Sandhu.
