LUDHIANA: With the Smart City mission nearing its end, civic officials want to complete ongoing projects by the end of March this year. However, given the slow pace of the projects, this might remain wishful thinking.

Despite the long time they have already taken, projects, including the 24×7 surface water supply project for selected areas, bioremediation of legacy waste (first phase), and establishment of construction and demolition waste plants, are still pending. MC officials claimed that they would simply transfer funds from Ludhiana Smart City Ltd to the MC, avoiding any problems with completion of the projects at a later stage.

The project of laying water supply lines and arranging underground water tanks for the 24×7 water supply project in selected areas under the Smart City Mission is among the first ones to be announced. However, almost five years on, work is incomplete and the deadline has been extended to the end of March.

The project of installing smart UID number plates outside houses has also been delayed. Sources said that since contractors withdrew from the project, authorities would have to float tenders again. The first phase of bioremediation of legacy waste project is also pending and officials expect it to be completed in one to two months.

Other ongoing projects include construction of basketball courts in Guru Nanak Stadium, establishment of a construction and demolition waste plant, an all-weather swimming pool, and construction of a bridge over Buddha Dariya near Chand Cinema.

Major challenges

The major issue for the MC will be to complete works inaugurated in a rush before the MC elections. These include renovation of Rose Garden and construction of a few bridges over Buddha Dariya and Sidhwan Canal. According to officials, the projects were recently handed over to contractors, and it will take them at least six months to complete it, especially on the bridges.

A senior MC official claimed that they asked the contractors to complete pending works in the given time period but at a few places, there was shortage of construction material and skilled labour was not available, causing delays. He said they have already earmarked funds for the projects and once work began on the ground, no major issues would come up.

MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal assured that the projects would be completed on time as they had urged contractors to do so. He said that a few projects would be completed in January, while a few would be completed in February. He added that they were regularly monitoring the remaining projects.

The MC received Rs 959.25 crore under this mission, of which Rs 942.43 crore has been utilised.

  • Published On Jan 13, 2025 at 01:15 PM IST

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