4 days Ago By Nidhi Bhardwaj
Ludhiana: A 8.8 crore beautification plan for Ludhiana's Nehru Rose Garden, once billed as a showcase of Smart City progress, now lies entangled in controversy, court proceedings, and a widening corruption probe that could see the entire project scrapped. The civic initiative, aimed at upgrading the iconic park with ornamental lighting, new landscaping, open gyms, a children's play area, and modern toilet blocks, is on hold after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the issuance of the project's work order.
The court's intervention follows a series of red flags, including alleged violations of the model code of conduct during the tender process and a sensational bribery allegation involving a senior municipal engineer. Under Fire Since Inception From the moment tenders were floated, the project drew scrutiny. Initially, complaints were filed accusing municipal officials of bypassing due process while the Model Code of Conduct was in effect during municipal elections .
The matter soon escalated to the High Court. Tensions peaked with the arrest of a superintending engineer by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau , after a viral audio clip allegedly captured him demanding a 10 percent commission from a contractor. The engineer is also accused of blackmail and misusing his authority in the tendering process.
Although the foundation stone was ceremonially laid on March 28, legal hurdles have prevented any groundwork from commencing. City officials, now under intense scrutiny, have gone silent about the project's future. Pattern of Abandoned Jobs The Rose Garden controversy is not an isolated case.
Ludhiana has seen several infrastructure projects derailed due to similar allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Most notably, two major sewer rehabilitation initiatives — worth 154 crore — were abandoned under the Smart City Mission after allegations surfaced against senior MC officials. These included trenchless replacement projects for Malhar Road and DMC Road, and Panj Peer Road, areas previously plagued by road cave-ins.
Despite being critical to urban safety, both proposals were shelved and never revived. The Rose Garden plan now risks meeting a similar fate. With public trust waning and no clear answers from city authorities, the vision of a rejuvenated green space has once again become a symbol — not of progress, but of institutional decay.
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