(1) The Authority shall take into account any objections or suggestions or comments of the concerned persons before approving the proposed infrastructure project, and may either approve the same in its original format or subject to any changes that may be proposed by the Board and found acceptable by the Authority.
(2) In the event, the Authority is of the opinion that the objections or suggestions or comments so raised in the hearing, are unfounded or baseless or that the same can be dealt with at a later stage, it may, in its discretionallow the Board or the public infrastructure agency to go ahead with the project. Such decision shall be taken with in a period of thirty days of the hearing and it shall be final and binding.
1 [30-A. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no hearing shall be required to be given in respect of such projects which in the opinion of the Board, primarily involve up-gradation of existing infrastructure project or structuring of management and operation of infrastructure project or have been identified and taken up for development by the Board or any public infrastructure agency prior to the issuance of the notification under sub-section (1) of section 5:
Provided that the State Government may for the reason to be recorded in writing, exempt any other infrastructure project from giving hearing for facilitating expeditious implementation of such project in public interest.]
2[30-AA. The State Government may for the reasons to be recorded in writing, exempt any project or class of projects, from public hearing, if the same involves larger public interest.]
31. Upon identification of the infrastructure project to be developed under section 28, the Board shall direct the Project Management Team or the concerned Sectoral Sub-Committee or Committees to carry out itself or through external 1Inserted by Punjab Act No. 22 of 2003, Section 12 2Inserted by Punjab Act No. 22 of 2016, Section 6 Finalisation of the scope, fundings and structuring of infrastructure project.
Feasibility Report.
Exemption from hearing.
service providers or consultants, a feasibility study and to prepare and submit a feasibility report within a period of six months.