Audit Flags Amritsar Wi-Fi Amid Rs 44.86 Billion Smart City Spend

29 Jun 2026 CW Team

The data was obtained by advocate and RTI activist Kamal Anand from the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs and shows local SPVs submitted utilisation certificates up to March 2026. That continued reconciliation despite the mission’s official closure on 31 March 2025 has raised questions over project overlap and spending priorities.

Amritsar’s largest allocations included a Rs 4.50 bn gas pipeline, the Rs 3.04 bn Walled City Wi-Fi, Rs 1.19 bn for smart roads and Rs 358.7 million (mn) for LED street lighting. Authorities said most Smart City works are complete or in final stages and attributed delays to Covid disruptions and technical challenges.

Ludhiana recorded Rs 13.89 bn across 82 projects, including Rs 2.50 bn for Buddha Nullah rejuvenation and about Rs 740 mn for waste clearance at Jamalpur dumpsite. Jalandhar recorded Rs 11.86 bn for 78 projects, led by a Rs 3.90 bn bulk water supply scheme and Rs 749.8 mn for an integrated command and control centre.

The RTI reply also prompted scrutiny over branding and signage, with entries showing Rs 52.5 mn on wayfinding signages and Rs 1.50 bn on stickers and signboards under separate project serials. Anand sought a detailed break-up of publicity spending versus core infrastructure expenditure and civic groups urged audits focused on quality-of-life outcomes.

The ministry provided approvals and utilisation records without alleging irregularities, and urban experts called for stringent quality-of-life audits to assess long-term efficacy. The emphasis is shifting from headline outlays to measured outcomes as authorities reconcile final accounts.

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An RTI response shows Punjab spent Rs 44.86 billion (bn) on 204 Smart Cities Mission projects across Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar after the programme formally ended. Amritsar accounted for Rs 19.11 bn across 44 projects and its Walled City public Wi-Fi attracted Rs 3.04 bn, making it one of the state’s costliest digital investments. The disclosure has prompted civic groups to seek an independent review of ground outcomes. The data was obtained by advocate and RTI activist Kamal Anand from the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs and shows local SPVs submitted utilisation certificates up to March 2026. That continued reconciliation despite the mission’s official closure on 31 March 2025 has raised questions over project overlap and spending priorities. Amritsar’s largest allocations included a Rs 4.50 bn gas pipeline, the Rs 3.04 bn Walled City Wi-Fi, Rs 1.19 bn for smart roads and Rs 358.7 million (mn) for LED street lighting. Authorities said most Smart City works are complete or in final stages and attributed delays to Covid disruptions and technical challenges. Ludhiana recorded Rs 13.89 bn across 82 projects, including Rs 2.50 bn for Buddha Nullah rejuvenation and about Rs 740 mn for waste clearance at Jamalpur dumpsite. Jalandhar recorded Rs 11.86 bn for 78 projects, led by a Rs 3.90 bn bulk water supply scheme and Rs 749.8 mn for an integrated command and control centre. The RTI reply also prompted scrutiny over branding and signage, with entries showing Rs 52.5 mn on wayfinding signages and Rs 1.50 bn on stickers and signboards under separate project serials. Anand sought a detailed break-up of publicity spending versus core infrastructure expenditure and civic groups urged audits focused on quality-of-life outcomes. The ministry provided approvals and utilisation records without alleging irregularities, and urban experts called for stringent quality-of-life audits to assess long-term efficacy. The emphasis is shifting from headline outlays to measured outcomes as authorities reconcile final accounts.

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