Smart City Mission: CBI to look into overspending issue in Ludhiana

09 May 2022 CW Team

A complaint has been lodged with the Union Government seeking a CBI probe into the issue of overspending on several works under Smart City Mission in Ludhiana.

The top officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC), along with the officials of Ludhiana Smart City Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of projects under the Smart City Mission, have made an unabashed attempt to sweep the issue of overspending on various projects. A complaint has been lodged with the Central Government seeking a CBI probe to unearth the 'complicity' of concerned civic body officials.

The review meeting on Smart City projects called by the MC on May 2 did not discuss the reasons for the 30% surplus expense than the original estimation incurred on Sarabha Nagar Market and Malhar Road projects.

A document placed on the agenda of the meeting had mentioned the total expense at Rs 50.20 crore as against the original estimation of Rs 38.63 crore.

In a complaint to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MoHUA), Ramesh Nayyar, who has been associated with construction works of local bodies and government departments, has charged senior MC officials and Congress government officials with diverting funds to fill their treasury from the Smart City allocation over last many years.

MC officials overseeing Smart City projects are with contractors and construction agencies, as they are sharing the booty at the cost of the public treasury. There is no supervision over the quality of material employed and workmanship in the project. For the same reason, the escalated expense of Smart City projects is being approved.

Nayyar told the media that a CBI probe into overspending on these projects was sought since all projects being implemented under the Smart City Mission were partly funded by the Union Government.

The investigation would not only reveal the dubious role of MC officials concerned and the construction agency but also will uncover the real face of political leaders, who were calling the shots during the previous government, he said.

Image Source

Also read: Ludhiana Municipal Corporation to review development projects

A complaint has been lodged with the Union Government seeking a CBI probe into the issue of overspending on several works under Smart City Mission in Ludhiana. The top officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC), along with the officials of Ludhiana Smart City Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of projects under the Smart City Mission, have made an unabashed attempt to sweep the issue of overspending on various projects. A complaint has been lodged with the Central Government seeking a CBI probe to unearth the 'complicity' of concerned civic body officials. The review meeting on Smart City projects called by the MC on May 2 did not discuss the reasons for the 30% surplus expense than the original estimation incurred on Sarabha Nagar Market and Malhar Road projects. A document placed on the agenda of the meeting had mentioned the total expense at Rs 50.20 crore as against the original estimation of Rs 38.63 crore. In a complaint to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MoHUA), Ramesh Nayyar, who has been associated with construction works of local bodies and government departments, has charged senior MC officials and Congress government officials with diverting funds to fill their treasury from the Smart City allocation over last many years. MC officials overseeing Smart City projects are with contractors and construction agencies, as they are sharing the booty at the cost of the public treasury. There is no supervision over the quality of material employed and workmanship in the project. For the same reason, the escalated expense of Smart City projects is being approved. Nayyar told the media that a CBI probe into overspending on these projects was sought since all projects being implemented under the Smart City Mission were partly funded by the Union Government. The investigation would not only reveal the dubious role of MC officials concerned and the construction agency but also will uncover the real face of political leaders, who were calling the shots during the previous government, he said. Image Source Also read: Ludhiana Municipal Corporation to review development projects

Equipment

30 May 2026

Zoomlion Expands Hybrid Farm Machinery Globally

Zoomlion is expanding its global deployment of new energy and intelligent agricultural machinery, showcasing hybrid tractors, smart harvesters and crop-specific mechanisation solutions across exhibitions in Turkey, South Africa, Thailand, Brazil and China.The DV3504 and DQ2604 hybrid tractors were highlighted in Turkey and South Africa as solutions for large-scale farming, lower fuel consumption and high-load applications such as deep tillage. Brazil also marked a key milestone, with Zoomlion launching the DV3504 for the local market and aligning it with the country’s green agriculture needs..

Infrastructure Urban

30 May 2026

LANXESS Tops European Sustainability Index

LANXESS has ranked first in Europe and fifth worldwide in the Chemicals category of the latest Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index. The specialty chemicals company received strong ratings for climate strategy, water, human rights and product stewardship.Matthias Zachert, Chief Executive Officer of LANXESS AG, said the ranking underlines the company’s focus on embedding sustainability into its corporate strategy, including climate protection, responsible resource use and good governance.LANXESS has also improved its sustainability rating from Sustainalytics, moving from the Medium Risk category to ..

Infrastructure Transport

30 May 2026

SHM Launches 29-Metre Aluminium Passenger Craft

SHM Group has launched Ocean Crewzer 8, a 29-metre high-speed aluminium passenger craft, at its shipyard in Mumbai. Designed and built in-house, the vessel has been developed to meet current marine operational and safety requirements for India’s waterway operations.The vessel has been built entirely with aluminium, a preferred material for fast passenger craft due to its lightweight structure and higher fuel efficiency compared to conventional steel vessels. The launch is part of SHM Group’s ongoing shipbuilding programme, focused on developing vessels for India’s growing maritime needs...