Ludhiana: Council Member Accuses Irregularities During Vending Zone Re-location Process
In the heart of Ludhiana, a controversy has erupted over the relocation of a Smart City project, specifically a vending zone project, from the West constituency to the North constituency. The project, valued at ₹1.2 crores, has been under scrutiny due to allegations of misuse of funds and violation of rules.
Congress councillor Bhupinder Kaur from Ward 94 has written a formal complaint to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, alleging that the project was initially sanctioned for Zone D but was moved to Zone A without due approval. She further claims that work orders were issued on September 21, 2022, but the relocation occurred later, allegedly in violation of rules.
Kaur alleges that the new location for the project is unnecessary as a vegetable market already exists nearby. Furthermore, she claims that the relocation was done to benefit an acquaintance who is reportedly planning to set up an illegal slaughterhouse. The most concerning allegation, however, is that the project site is located in a prohibited green belt area, making the construction illegal.
Kaur has called this a clear misuse of Smart City funds and has urged the ministry to halt construction and order an impartial inquiry.
On the other hand, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation officials have defended the project's relocation, stating that it was made to provide more space for vendors and reduce congestion, claiming it was done in the public interest. Shamlal Gupta, the superintending engineer of the MC, has stated that the move was not unlawful.
As of now, no independent or government-led inquiry results have been reported publicly, and these remain allegations supported by the councillor's formal complaints and local media coverage. The dispute centres on procedural irregularities, potential conflict of interest, and violation of zoning rules related to public fund utilization for Smart City projects in Ludhiana.
[1] Local News Outlet A, "Allegations of Misuse of Smart City Funds in Ludhiana's Vending Zone Project," [Date of Publication], URL
[2] Local News Outlet B, "Councillor Alleges Misuse of Funds and Rule Violations in Ludhiana's Smart City Project," [Date of Publication], URL
- The controversy surrounding the Smart City project in Ludhiana, specifically the vending zone project, has expanded to include allegations of improper policy-and-legislation in the politics of the city, as Congress councillor Bhupinder Kaur accuses authorities of illegally moving the project and violating zoning rules.
- The debate over the relocation of the Smart City project's vending zone in Ludhiana's West constituency to the North constituency has brought to light concerns about general-news issues such as potential misuse of funds, conflict of interest, and illegal construction, as Kaur urges for an impartial investigation and public fund accountability.
