Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Faces Mounting Pressure Over Stalled Infrastructure Projects
Despite increasing pressure from ruling party MLAs to accelerate infrastructure development, officials at the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) are encountering significant obstacles in initiating crucial projects under a substantial Rs 135.85 crore special assistance scheme from the central government. With a stringent completion deadline of March 31 rapidly approaching, not a single project has commenced on the ground, leaving residents to contend with worsening road conditions.
Scheme Details and Funding Challenges
The central scheme provides a 50-year interest-free loan to urban local bodies, but funds are released only after submission of utilisation certificates upon project completion. This requirement, combined with departmental delays and intense conflicts among contractors over tender allocations, has effectively paralyzed progress. Out of 20 works that have been tendered, work orders have been issued for merely eight projects.
Officials assert that seven additional work orders will be issued shortly, but five remain in a state of uncertainty as the department seeks legal advice following allegations that officials showed preferential treatment to favored contractors. The MC lacks independent funds for large-scale reconstruction, exacerbating the situation for residents dealing with deteriorating infrastructure.
Constituency Allocations and Internal Hurdles
While MLAs have vied to include the maximum number of roads from their constituencies in the scheme, the North constituency has secured the lion's share, receiving Rs 2 crore of the total budget. This allocation leaves approximately Rs 65 crore for the rest of the city, highlighting disparities in resource distribution.
Internal challenges further complicate matters, including a federal condition mandating that each proposed work must exceed Rs 5 crore. Additionally, the ongoing 24x7 surface water supply project creates logistical issues, as many areas designated for roadwork are currently being excavated for pipe-laying. An official emphasized the need to prevent newly constructed roads from being immediately damaged, stating that contractors could potentially meet the month-end deadline if work commences promptly.
Official Statements and Optimism Amid Delays
Superintending engineer Sham Lal Gupta acknowledged the delays but expressed optimism about resolving the issues swiftly. "We are addressing the problems as quickly as possible and will strive to meet the March 31 deadline," Gupta said. However, with only one month remaining, the civic body faces a formidable task in utilizing the massive grant before it expires, raising concerns about the timely completion of these critical infrastructure projects.
