Ludhiana: Atal Apartments project lingers on, allottees see red
File PhotoLUDHIANA: Despite receiving a consent from the state government for construction of flats under the Atal Apartments project, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) officials have failed to start the work on the ground. Even tenders issued for the construction of a community centre and multi-storey parking, included in the scheme, have been put on hold.
Unable to give reasons for the delay, officials mere say that the work will begin soon.
The LIT officials claimed that they are in the process of obtaining environment clearance to start the work. Although the clearance has been received in 2017 and it is valid till 2027, there has been some changes in the design of the project, hence the trust does not want to get into trouble by starting the work without renewing the clearance, sources said. Once the construction of flats begins, the process to allot tenders for building a community centre and multi-storey parking will also be expedited.
Superintending engineer of the LIT Satbhushan Sachdeva said, “We will shortly begin the construction work at the site.”
The allottees said if the officials did not start the work in a few days, the model code of conduct will come into force once the MC elections are announced.
As many as 576 flats will be built on 8.8 acres in Karnail Singh Nagar, Pakhowal road, Out of the total, 336 flats are HIG and 240 are in MIG categories. The estimated cost of this project is around Rs 250 crore. The scheme is pending since 2008. The foundation stone of this project has been laid twice. In 2011, then local government minister Tikshan Sood had laid the foundation stone, while in December 2021, then Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi did so.
Even during the tenure of the Akali-BJP government, draws were conducted for this project. But when the Congress came to power, the draw was cancelled and new outline was made for the project. After the change of government, draws were held on June 16, 2022. Then, former local bodies minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar on April 10 had handed over allotment letters to 487 successful applicants of the flats to be constructed under the Atal Apartments Project by the LIT.
