Ludhiana's Property Plates Project Stuck in 12-Year Digital Limbo

Ludhiana, May 12: Ludhiana's property modernization effort has stalled after 12 years with two failed attempts to install unique identification plates. A Smart City Mission project collapsed due to contractor disputes, leaving only 85,000 plates installed.

Project Goals

The municipal corporation project, first proposed in 2014, aimed to fix a permanent UID number and QR code to every home and business. The system would allow officials to instantly scan a property to check for unpaid taxes, water bills, and sewage dues. However, after 12 years of planning and aborted starts, the initiative has stalled with no clear timeline for resumption.

Smart City Mission Failure

The most recent attempt under the Smart City Mission collapsed after a dispute between the civic body and its contractor. While the project aimed to cover the entire city, work stopped after the installation of just 85,000 plates. Disagreements arose when officials ordered a drone-based survey to replace the initially contracted GIS-based method. Even though the ₹5.7 crore project removed the previous ₹110 fee for residents, it still failed to meet its extended 2025 deadline.

Need for Resurvey

Municipal officials now claim that a complete resurvey is necessary. The last comprehensive count in 2014 recorded 4 lakh properties, a figure that has grown significantly over the decade. Without an updated database, the existing UID records remain disconnected from the city's current urban sprawl.

Previous Attempts and Way Forward

A 2017 rollout managed to cover only 35,000 houses before stopping because residents refused to pay for the plates. While the second phase solved the payment issue, bureaucratic indecision and contractual friction again left the city without promised digital identification. Municipal commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta said the project remained a priority despite setbacks, and the city is exploring central government schemes to secure fresh funding.