Ludhiana city limits taking pain of multi- development agencies
Author(s): Ar. Sanjay GoelFor Ludhiana City to really become Smart City it must have single development agency like other metropolis in India rather than having so many agencies with further multi-offices. There must be single development...
For Ludhiana City to really become Smart City it must have single development agency like other metropolis in India rather than having so many agencies with further multi-offices.
There must be single development authority like Ludhiana Smart City Limited or Ludhiana Municipal Corporation OR Ludhiana Development Authority.
Presently majority Ludhiana City is controlled by four zones of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation followed by many areas by Punjab Urban Development Authority, Ludhiana, Improvement Trust , Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority, District Town Planner , PSIEC (for few focal point areas), Housefed, Wakf Board etc.
Roads passing through city are also controlled by multi agencies including corporation, Punjab B & R, NHAI etc.
Water supply and Sewerage departments of different departments are working in addition to Punjab Public Health Department.
Similarly, corporation electricity departments are working in addition to PSPCL.
Forest Department, Irrigation Department, Telecom Department are few other departments responsible for being multi- departments on single road within city. How smart results for smooth traffic, livable city, pollution free city will come up in presence of so many departments working without good coordination.
Mix land use is major reason for all problems in city unlike Chandigarh. Within city we must have single agency with very big single office for fastest output. Outside city limits multi-departments may be there.
For example Hawai Adda Restaurant, car showrooms, hospitals, school etc came up during years and are also many years old. Why any departments not studied rules/map/permission in time within a day or week or month?
Why they wait for public or RTI activists’ letters through newspapers etc and then came into action?
First few government employees allow unauthorised constructions due to their own benefits and later owners are pulled up. Owners too are at fault that why don't they take permission of CLU or maps in advance!!
Traffic and pollution problems of city can't be solved until all responsible agencies are either merged or sit regularly on common platform!!
(The author is Director- Ludhiana Smart City Limited & Chairman - IIA Punjab Chapter)