Chandigarh, August 29 – A day after the Union government approved an additional grant of ₹125 crore for the cash-strapped municipal corporation (MC), Chandigarh mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla convened a meeting with BJP councillors to review ward-level issues and priority projects.
Elected and nominated councillors of the BJP congratulated Babla for her “proactive leadership” in securing financial support and steering the city’s development agenda. The councillors also reviewed ongoing and upcoming civic works. “I am thankful to all elected and nominated councillors for their faith and cooperation. Our prime focus is to start the road recarpeting work at the earliest. Development is not possible without collective effort, and together we will ensure that Chandigarh continues to progress as a clean, green, and people-friendly city,” Babla said.
The announcement of central funds has, however, sparked sharp reactions from the opposition. On Thursday, Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky demanded that the MC issue a comprehensive white paper on its financial health over the last decade. “During Congress’ tenure, MC maintained a fixed deposit of over ₹500 crore, ensuring fiscal stability and the ability to fund developmental projects. In sharp contrast, today the corporation’s financial condition has deteriorated to such an extent that it is being compelled to transfer its core assets to the Chandigarh administration in order to survive,” Lucky said. He added that the fresh grant should be spent on “genuine development works and not for settling dues or liabilities.”
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also reiterated its support for the city’s road recarpeting and upgradation projects, but criticised the BJP-led MC for the recent handover of 262 km of V-3 roads to the UT administration citing financial stress. AAP Chandigarh president Vijaypal Singh accused the ruling party of bypassing democratic process. “We are not against roads; we want every road in Chandigarh to be world-class. But this decision was bulldozed through without debate, without timelines for project completion, and without a written commitment from the administration on returning these roads to the MC. This is not governance; this is bulldozing democracy,” Singh said.
With the Centre’s fresh aid offering temporary relief, the debate over financial transparency and civic autonomy has intensified, setting the stage for a renewed political tussle in Chandigarh’s civic body.
