LUDHIANA: Several highly anticipated projects by the civic body are set for inauguration and will soon be accessible to the public. The all-weather swimming pool and the construction and demolition waste plant have been completed, while the basketball court is nearing its finish. Officials anticipate that the remaining work will take another week.
The construction and demolition (C&D) waste plant located in Dhandhari was originally part of the Smart City Mission but later transitioned to the Swachh Bharat Mission due to rising costs and structural changes. Initially budgeted at Rs 2.69 crore, the project faced challenges when the selected site turned out to be a dumpsite, requiring the construction of pillars and trash removal. Consequently, the project cost ballooned, with the tender awarded at Rs 7.30 crore and an additional Rs 2.20 crore allocated for machinery purchased under the Smart City Mission.
The newly built plant will be capable of processing at least 100 tons of construction waste daily. After crushing the waste, the contractor will produce various products, including tiles. The city urgently needs this facility as ongoing construction often leads to large amounts of rubble scattered about. Despite attempts to designate disposal sites, waste frequently accumulates in green belts.
The all-weather swimming pool has been a long-standing demand in the city, as residents previously lacked a facility for winter swimming. Only a handful of clubs have all-weather pools. Swimming enthusiasts, particularly athletes, found it challenging to train. The new pool, constructed near Rakh Bagh next to the existing MC pool, cost Rs 5.82 crore and ranges in depth from 4.5 feet to 6 feet.
The third project is the basketball court at Guru Nanak Stadium, which has a budget of Rs 14.38 crore under the Smart City Mission. Completion is expected within a week, although this project has faced multiple delays. Two courts are nearly finished.
MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal stated, “The swimming pool is ready for use. We have also conducted trial runs of the C&D waste plant, which will begin operations soon. However, more time is needed for the basketball court.”
With the completion of these sports facilities—including a table tennis court, basketball court, and all-weather swimming pool—officials are considering transferring maintenance responsibilities to private entities.
