Ludhiana is set to become the epicenter of a major administrative overhaul in Punjab's urban development sector. The city is preparing to implement the state's game-changing unified building bylaws, which promise to dramatically speed up construction approvals through a digital, self-certification model.
A Digital Leap: eNaksha Portal Replaces MC-Glada Silos
The cornerstone of this reform is the introduction of a single, unified digital platform called eNaksha. This portal will dismantle the long-standing bureaucratic silos between the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada). Previously, builders and citizens had to navigate separate, often slow-moving, systems for approvals. Now, a single online gateway will handle the entire process.
Under the new framework, certified and empanelled architects will upload building plans for structures up to 21 meters in height directly to the eNaksha portal. The process is designed for digital speed, featuring automated fee calculations based on the architect's data entry. Once fees are paid online, the plans will be digitally countersigned by the municipal commissioner or executive officer.
The Core Reform: Deemed Approval in 10 Days or Less
The most significant procedural shift is the "deemed approval" clause. Once an architect submits a plan on the portal, the local authorities have a strict window of 10 days to review it and raise any objections. If the authorities do not flag any issues within this 10-day period, the plan is automatically considered approved.
This system eliminates indefinite waiting periods. Furthermore, architects will have instant access to download the sanctioned plans without needing to interact directly with municipal staff, ensuring a transparent and paperless trail.
Speed with Strings Attached: Heightened Architect Accountability
While the rules promise faster approvals, they come with significantly increased responsibility for the professionals involved. The burden of compliance shifts squarely onto the shoulders of certified architects.
Architects are now legally mandated to not only design and submit plans but also to monitor the ongoing construction actively. They must report any deviations from the sanctioned plan to the authorities immediately. Failure to do so, or any concealment of information, will trigger severe penalties.
An MC official explicitly warned that architects found guilty of malpractice would face penal proceedings and could be debarred from practicing in any urban local body across Punjab. The liability is "joint and several," meaning both the property owner and the architect can be held responsible for any misstatements or concealed facts regarding existing site violations.
The government, however, retains oversight power. The MC and nagar panchayats reserve the right to verify any plan at any stage. Additionally, property owners must display the architect's name and the building application number prominently at the construction site.
Harvinder Honey, the assistant town planner for Ludhiana MC, confirmed that the department has received the official notification and is currently reviewing the technical details for implementation. This move is widely seen as a crucial step to attract investment and streamline urban development in Punjab's industrial hub by slashing bureaucratic red tape.
