Says, Faster Clearances, Decentralised Decision-Making and Mission-Mode Urban Development
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Punjab Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Industries & Commerce, Power, and Investment Promotio Sanjeev Arora, today said that the State Government has rolled out far-reaching administrative, financial, and structural reforms in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to ensure time-bound decision-making, transparency, and uninterrupted execution of development works across Punjab.
Reviewing the functioning of ULBs, the Minister stated that, under the able guidance of National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Hon’ble CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, prolonged pendency of resolutions and approvals had earlier affected development and public service delivery. To address this, the Government has adopted a reform-driven, decentralised, and accountability-based governance framework, supported by daily monitoring, systemic restructuring, and strict timelines.
As a result, a substantial backlog of long-pending resolutions has been cleared, 1100 resolutions were pending and in last 3 week 900 have been cleared. Some resolutions were pending from 2018, restoring momentum to urban infrastructure and civic development works. The remaining cases are under active process and are expected to be disposed of shortly.
To institutionalise these reforms, the e-Nigam software has been implemented w.e.f. 01.02.2026 for exclusive online processing of all ULB resolutions. This marks a decisive shift away from manual procedures and ensures speed, transparency, traceability, and accountability. Further procedural simplification and decentralisation are being undertaken to prevent future pendency.
Enhanced Financial Powers and Faster Project Approvals
Sanjeev Arora announced that financial approval powers have been significantly enhanced to expedite execution of development projects at the field level: Superintending Engineers (SEs) are now empowered to accord financial approvals up to ₹2 crore, enhanced from the earlier limit of ₹1 crore.Chief Engineers (CEs) can now approve projects up to ₹10 crore, doubled from the previous ceiling of ₹5 crore. In another major reform, two Committees of Chief Engineers have been constituted at the Headquarters in place of the earlier single committee, ensuring elimination of bottlenecks and zero pendency at the Head Office level.
The Minister further directed that all resolutions, vetting of proposals, technical sanctions, and related approvals for Local Government works shall be completed within a strict timeline of 10 working days, reinforcing time-bound governance and officer accountability.
Rationalisation of Engineering Cadre and Regional Structure
Arora informed that, based on geographical and administrative considerations, all Urban Local Bodies have been reorganised into six regions—Amritsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala.
Under the new structure: One Chief Engineer (CE) has been designated for each region, overseeing Municipal Corporations and Councils, including B&R and O&M works.One Superintending Engineer (SE) has been posted per region.One Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE) has been posted per district.
This rationalisation aims to improve coordination, enhance field-level supervision, and accelerate execution of projects.
Mission-Mode Sewer Line Cleaning through Rate Contracts
The Minister stated that the tender process for sewer line cleaning under rate contracts has been initiated, with awards already completed for 161 Urban Local Bodies. The five major Municipal Corporations—Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Patiala—are in the final stages of tendering, and six agencies have been empanelled to carry out the work.
He emphasised that Municipal Councils have been freed from repeated tendering, enabling faster mobilisation and reduced delays through pre-approved contractors. By fixing unit rates, the Government has protected public funds from price fluctuations while maintaining fiscal discipline. These contracts are designed to ensure mission-mode cleaning of critical sewer lines ahead of the monsoon.
He added that tenders for Municipal Corporations under the “One City, One Operator” scheme are progressing and will be awarded shortly.
Water Supply and Sewerage Infrastructure under AMRUT 2.0 & SBM (Urban) 2.0
Sanjeev Arora further stated that a major shift from groundwater to canal-based water supply is being implemented under AMRUT 2.0. At present, Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) are operational in 90 towns with a total capacity of 609 MLD, ensuring 100% water supply coverage in 148 towns. Additionally, four Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 87 MLD are being implemented under the scheme, with a total outlay of ₹3,626 crore.
Speaking on SBM (Urban) 2.0, he informed that STPs are being developed in 56 towns with a total capacity of 213 MLD. Procurement of 730 sewer-cleaning machines has been completed under the scheme, which has a total outlay of ₹1,647 crore.
“These reforms are not isolated measures but part of a comprehensive transformation of urban governance in Punjab. Our focus is on faster delivery, transparency, fiscal discipline, and visible improvement in civic services,” Sanjeev Arora