Ludhiana's Multi-Crore Budget Faces Scathing Criticism from Former Civic Leaders
In Ludhiana, former civic leaders have launched a blistering critique of the city's latest multi-crore budget, labeling the fiscal plan a collection of "inflated projections" that masks a harsh reality of crumbling infrastructure and failed public works. While the municipal corporation (MC) has proposed massive expenditures for the financial year 2026-27, critics point to systemic underspending and the "deplorable" state of the city's own headquarters as evidence of a widening gap between administrative announcements and ground-level action.
The "Desilting" Deficit and Financial Discipline Concerns
Former councillor Mamta Ashu questioned the local body department's intent after reviewing the previous year's performance. She highlighted a ₹30 crore allocation specifically earmarked for the desilting of the Buddha Dariya—a critical environmental waterway—that saw almost no actual spending in the 2025-26 period. "This clearly points to gaps between announcements and action," Ashu said. "Public money demands responsible planning, not inflated projections on paper and inconsistencies in execution."
She further noted a lack of financial discipline, alleging that while core development projects languished, the corporation overspent on machinery beyond approved limits. "It indicates either projects are not being executed properly, or funds are being over-projected without implementation capacity," she added, underscoring the need for more transparent and accountable fiscal management.
A Headquarters in Decay: Basic Facilities Missing
The critique extended beyond spreadsheets to the physical state of the corporation itself. Former councillor Parminder Mehta ridiculed the administration for passing a budget worth crores while failing to provide basic facilities for its own staff and the public. Mehta pointed out that the headquarters of Punjab's largest municipal corporation lacks a ground-floor bathroom and a functional lift, effectively barring the disabled and the elderly from accessing services.
"Those who passed a budget worth crores neither have their own halls for meetings nor are there even councillor rooms available at the zonal level," Mehta said, highlighting the irony of allocating vast sums while neglecting essential infrastructure.
The Infrastructure Gap and Urban Development Failures
The "deplorable state" of the Zone C office was cited as a primary example of the civic body's failure to maintain its own assets. Mehta noted that the corporation, which frequently promises modern urban facilities, lacks even uniform furniture in its offices. "Before increasing the budget by crores every year, the corporation should ensure that the general public, its councillors, and employees receive facilities at the highest level," Mehta said.
He dismissed talk of modernizing or air-conditioning the offices as a "distant dream" given the current lack of basic sanitation and accessibility, calling for immediate reforms to bridge the infrastructure gap and restore public trust in municipal governance.
