Smart City projects still in limbo.

Though chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had laid the foundation stone for much-awaited projects under Smart City Mission in March, they are yet to be commissioned, even as the tendering procedure has been completed. The approval to hand over work orders to selected companies is awaited by members of the executive committee meant for Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL). All these five projects also went thrice under the tendering process.

These five projects included retrofitting and beautification of Sarabha Nagar market, development of Malhar Road as smart road, 24x7 water supply in ABD (area-based development) area, stormwater system in ABD area, and augmentation of existing sewerage system in ABD area of the smart city. All these five projects were among the most ambitious projects of Smart City Mission, and on the basis of these projects, the city was ranked among the first top 20 smart cities of country. A maximum number of residents had voted for development of these areas, and these projects were announced first of all.

One official revealed that more than a month had passed since they had given their nod for issuing work orders to firms after completing the tendering process thrice, but now it is gone for approval from the executive committee (EC). He said when EC gives the nod, they would be able to hand over orders to the company for work to start.

Meanwhile, mayor Balkar Sandhu said: “Even I am depressed with the delay in execution of Smart City projects, and during the board of directors meeting, I had conveyed this thing to officers in Chandigarh. But the process is complicated and things get delayed.” He said they were helpless, and would have to wait for a nod from EC.

Notably, when the CM had laid the foundation stone on March 11, then it was announced that projects would be commissioned in May, but now even after six months have passed, the projects are nowhere to be seen on the ground.

Sarabha Nagar market

The Sarabha Nagar market retrofitting includes design, supply, and installation of all landscape works, and façade works, including undergrounding of electrical services. The main features of the project are: increase and improvement of public plaza, addition of landscape elements, improvement of user comfort, upgradation of services and utilities, electrical undergrounding, additional services such as fire service, groundwater recharge for future utilities, and regularization of parking.

Surface water supply

Through this project, residents in the selected area will get canal-based water supply for 24 hours, and pressure on groundwater will reduce. At present, the supply is through 25 tubewells in areas, and supply is for 10 hours. But under the new project, a new distribution network of 90km would be laid to ensure 24x7 pressurized water supply.

Sewerage and stormwater drainage

The project will encompass survey, cleaning, CCTV condition asssessment, and GIS integration of existing sewerage system (approx 49km), besides replacement of damaged/hydraulically inadequate sewers (2.6km), and rehabilitation and strengthening of existing sewerage. It may be noted that only 5% separate stormwater drainage system covers the ABD area. There will be complete transformation of existing stormwater drainage system as well.

Smart Street, Phase 1

Under this project, smart utilities, shared pathways, regulated parking, and other smart concepts are proposed for Malhar Road. Improvement of infrastructure, introduction of utility corridor under footpaths, efficient use of space, and ensuring avoiding of unnecessary road diggings for utilities maintenance are among the project’s main features. It also aimed at providing adequate streetscape elements, such as streetlights, direction and parking signs, garbage bins, amenity zones for vendors, bus shelters, public toilets, etc.

TOI