Chandigarh: Sanjeev Arora on Thursday announced a series of major initiatives aimed at accelerating urban transformation across Punjab, focusing on infrastructure development, improved civic services, and ease of living. As part of public relief measures, the One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme for Improvement Trusts has been reintroduced till April 30, 2026, offering around 50% rebate on Non-Construction Fee (NCF). The Minister also highlighted a significant rise in house tax collection, which reached ₹600 crore in FY 2025–26, up from ₹500 crore last year, reflecting better compliance and transparency.
Boosting urban infrastructure, the government is undertaking construction of 2,120 km of roads across municipal bodies at a cost of ₹1,300 crore, with completion targeted by May 2026. Special focus is being placed on ensuring pothole-free roads before the monsoon. In a major reform to ease doing business, the building plan approval process has been simplified, reducing delays through a single-window system and limiting repeated file submissions.
The government is also investing ₹131 crore to modernise fire services, including new equipment and 13 fire stations. Additionally, large-scale sewerage and water management projects are underway, with ₹450 crore worth sewerage works already allotted and more in the pipeline, along with ₹700 crore surface water projects and 30 new water treatment plants worth around ₹800 crore. Arora said these initiatives mark a new phase of urban development, aimed at delivering faster services and better quality of life for citizens.
