Tandon raises Chandigarh civic, workers’ issues with Administrator Kataria ahead of Shah’s visit

Chandigarh, October 31, 2026: Senior BJP leader Sanjay Tandon has raised several public welfare issues concerning Chandigarh residents, including Lal Dora households, Chandigarh Housing Board allottees, contractual workers, pilgrims and micro-industries, with Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria.

In the meeting, held ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Chandigarh, Tandon raised the issue of houses situated outside the Lal Dora. Tandon urged the Administrator to ensure that residents are provided basic amenities, including water and electricity connections. He emphasised that people living in these areas should not be deprived of essential services. The Administrator assured that action would be taken soon and that basic necessities, including water connections, would be provided to residents at the earliest.

Tandon also raised the long-pending concerns of Chandigarh Housing Board allottees, with Kataria assuring that considerable relief for the affected allottees was likely to be announced within the next two to three days.

“The Administrator has assured that considerable relief for the affected allottees is likely within the next two to three days. We hope the assurance will translate into concrete relief for the families concerned,” Tandon said.

Tandon raised the issue of timely salary payments to contractual workers employed through contractors in various departments of the Chandigarh Administration. He urged that their wages be credited directly to their bank accounts by the seventh of every month.

“Contractual workers should not have to struggle for their monthly salaries. Their wages must be credited directly to their bank accounts by the seventh of every month. The system should ensure timely payment and accountability,” he said.

Tandon also sought a mechanism to extend the benefit of favourable court orders to all similarly placed employees without requiring each individual to approach the judiciary. He said this would reduce unnecessary litigation, save time and spare workers the burden of avoidable legal expenses.

He further called for the restoration of the 13th-month salary benefit for  workers in Chandigarh’s jail, which was discontinued in 2022, along with the extension of all applicable Central Government benefits to them.

“Workers performing their duties in the jails deserve fair treatment and the benefits applicable to them. The discontinued 13th-month salary benefit should be restored, and all eligible Central Government benefits should be extended to them,” he said.

Tandon also urged the UT Administration to increase financial assistance for pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from the existing Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh, on the lines of the assistance provided by neighbouring Punjab.

Raising concerns of Chandigarh’s micro-industries, he called for the implementation of decisions already taken regarding the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), emphasising that pending matters should be resolved without further delay to provide relief to industrial units.

“Decisions concerning the city’s micro-industries should be implemented without further delay. Timely action on the pending FAR-related issues will provide much-needed relief to industrial units and help address their concerns,” Tandon said.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with the Administrator responding positively to the issues raised and assuring action on several key concerns. Tandon expressed confidence that the positive response and assurances received during the meeting would translate into concrete decisions and timely resolution of the issues affecting various sections of Chandigarh’s residents.