In a significant move to accelerate urban development projects across Punjab, Local Government Minister Sanjeev Arora announced on Wednesday that the state administration has cleared 900 out of over 1,100 long-pending resolutions from civic bodies within just three weeks. The minister revealed this during a comprehensive review of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Chandigarh, where he outlined a series of administrative reforms designed to eliminate bureaucratic delays that have plagued municipal projects for years.
Streamlining Approval Processes with Digital Solutions
Minister Arora disclosed that during the ULB review, authorities discovered that more than 1,100 resolutions passed by various civic bodies had been languishing in administrative limbo for several years, with some cases dating back to 2018. "These resolutions are fundamentally related to crucial development works and should have been cleared much earlier," Arora emphasized. "We have now successfully cleared over 900 of these pending resolutions through determined administrative action."
The minister further announced the implementation of a transformative digital system to prevent future delays. "We have decided to introduce an online approval mechanism with a strict deadline of 10 days for clearance from the head office," Arora stated. "To streamline this entire process, we have implemented the e-Nigam software platform that will bring transparency and efficiency to municipal governance."
Enhanced Financial Powers for Field-Level Execution
In another crucial development, the Punjab government has substantially enhanced the financial approval powers of field officials to expedite project implementation. The financial approval authority granted to officials has been effectively doubled, with Superintending Engineers (SEs) now empowered to accord financial approvals up to Rs 2 crore, a significant increase from the previous limit of Rs 1 crore.
"Here also, the proposals will be approved within 10 days for the release of funds," Minister Arora assured. "We have made chief engineers in charge of different geographical areas to ensure that project approvals do not face unnecessary delays. The enhancement of financial approval powers is specifically designed to accelerate the execution of development projects at the field level."
Monsoon Preparedness and Sewer Line Initiatives
The minister also provided updates on critical infrastructure maintenance ahead of the monsoon season. The tender process for sewer line cleaning under rate contracts has been initiated, with awards already completed for 161 Urban Local Bodies across Punjab.
"The five major Municipal Corporations—Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Patiala—are in the final stages of their tendering processes," Arora detailed. "We have empanelled six specialized agencies to carry out this essential work. Waterlogging during heavy rains remains a persistent challenge, and desilting of sewerage lines is particularly crucial in older housing colonies. We have set a clear target to clean up the entire storm water drainage system before the monsoon arrives."
Remaining Cases and Future Outlook
Regarding the approximately 200 remaining pending cases, Minister Arora confirmed that these are under active processing and are expected to be disposed of shortly. The minister expressed confidence that these comprehensive measures would help restore momentum to urban infrastructure and civic development works across Punjab, addressing long-standing bottlenecks that have hindered municipal progress.
The implementation of the 10-day online approval system, coupled with enhanced financial powers for engineers and targeted sewer line maintenance, represents a multi-pronged approach to transforming Punjab's urban governance framework. These initiatives aim to create a more responsive, efficient, and transparent municipal administration capable of meeting the growing infrastructure needs of the state's urban population.
