LUDHIANA: Residents from some of the city’s top neighborhoods are alleging that local authorities are sidestepping democratic norms in an expedited effort to transform tranquil residential streets into commercial areas.
The Ludhiana municipal corporation has completed the “regularization” of commercial activities along significant corridors such as Hambran Road and Malhar Road, and is finalizing the rezoning of BRS Nagar main road. While the intention is to enhance municipal revenue, homeowners have reacted strongly, claiming that the process was shrouded in “total secrecy” to benefit illegal businesses.
Accusations of procedural neglect
J S Gill, a BRS Nagar resident and former member of the Buddha Dariya Task Force, has lodged a formal grievance with the chief minister’s office. He accuses the MCL of neglecting essential legal protocols meant to safeguard residents’ rights.
“The MCL failed to display proposals on zonal notice boards, nor were there individual notices posted on affected properties,” Gill explained. He further claimed that public notifications were concealed in “insignificant newspapers” to hinder stakeholders from filing statutory objections. The complaint suggests that the rezoning is a retrospective effort to legitimize existing illegal commercial activities that contravene the Ludhiana Master Plan and prior Supreme Court orders.
Quality of life at risk
For residents in upscale neighborhoods like Sarabha Nagar, the encroaching commercialization has become a daily annoyance. Local resident Rahul Verma expressed concerns about the heavy traffic diverting into quiet internal lanes due to the conversion of Malhar Road. “What’s the point of investing in a planned neighborhood if authorities are going to disrupt our peace?” Verma questioned.
Kapi Arora, another resident of BRS Nagar, pointed out various infrastructure issues that the city has overlooked, such as parking shortages (commercial buildings without designated spots causing vehicles to overflow onto residential walkways), environmental impacts (heightened noise, sanitation challenges, and air pollution in previously calm areas), and infrastructure strain (existing civic utilities were not designed for the increased demand associated with commercial activity).
Revenue versus regulation
According to standard protocols, the MCL can propose rezoning for streets that are 60 feet or wider if surveys indicate a demand for commercial use. If the local council approves the resolution, the state local bodies department must invite and address public feedback before finalizing the notification.
However, MCL officials, who spoke anonymously, acknowledged that the final decision often hinges on “political and administrative will” rather than strict urban planning guidelines. As public dissent escalates, senior municipal officials have remained silent on the allegations of procedural misconduct.
