Curation Team
LUDHIANA: A high-profile project to assign unique identification (UID) number plates to every household in the city is headed for its third relaunch, after two failed attempts under separate civic initiatives. This time they have a new backer and contractor, as drones, delays and disputes stall progress.
The project — originally aimed at digitising property records and improving revenue collection through scannable QR-code plates — has been stalled repeatedly due to execution delays, contractor disputes, and changing mandates from supervising authorities.
The first rollout, managed directly by the municipal corporation (MC), ended prematurely after just 35,000 UID plates were installed. A second attempt under the central government’s Smart City Mission saw the installation of 80,000 plates and a GIS survey of around 1.5 lakh properties. But this effort also collapsed when the contractor declined to conduct a drone-based survey, citing costs three times higher than budgeted and arguing drones were not part of the original agreement.
As of now, the MC has scrapped the existing contract and is preparing for a third rollout — this time supported by the World Bank. The contractor, which began plate installation in Shimlapuri’s Block 29, halted work after officials directed them to switch to drone-based surveying on instructions from the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC). The firm refused, warning that such an expansion would significantly increase costs beyond the allocated ₹5.75 crore.
With work suspended, the MC is yet to determine how to manage the funds already allocated under the Smart City Mission. The project had originally been awarded in April 2023, with a completion deadline of April 2024, later extended to March 31, 2025 — delayed initially due to indecision over its formal inauguration.
MC Chief: Project Under Review
Municipal commissioner and CEO of Ludhiana Smart City Limited, Aaditya Dachalwal, confirms that the current project has been shelved. “We are ready with the reworked proposal. It is currently being vetted by PMIDC, and once cleared, we’ll float new tenders,” he said. The areas where UID plates were already installed won’t be included in the next rollout.
Dy Mayor Flags Contractor Conflict
Deputy mayor Prince Johar has formally raised concerns about the firm’s repeated involvement in failed attempts. In a letter to the MC commissioner, Johar recommended debarring the contractor, alleging that the same entity may have been involved in both previous phases — and is now also responsible for maintaining the MC’s website and delivering 37 digital services, which he claims are poorly managed.
Looking Ahead
As Ludhiana’s civic body prepares to float tenders for the third time — with new terms and international support — questions remain over accountability, project execution, and whether the city’s long-delayed UID system can finally move from ambition to reality.
