MC has ambitious plans to overhaul Ludhiana in 2023

Ludhiana: In the beginning of the year, the municipal corporation (MC) claims that the city will turn a new leaf in terms of hygiene, transport, public amenities and beautification this year. Here are the main projects in the pipeline of the civic body for 2023.
Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Project

Though the 225 million litre per day (MLD) sewage treatment plant (STP) will become functional within this month, the entire project will see its completion in June, including the interceptor lines, effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and rehabilitation of the existing STPs. The project is expected to bring relief from pollution in the Buddha Nullah. The officials claimed that project has moved at its pace and will see the completion in time.
Compactors for solid waste in 6 months
The civic body will install the compactors within next six months to solve the issue of dumping of solid waste/garbage in open. The civil structures are ready at some locations, while work is going on at remaining sites as well. The officials assured that the first 16 sites out of 22 will be covered by March, and then later on the remaining will be done. These compactors were announced about two years ago under Smart City Mission and it took a long time to complete the process.
Completion of Leisure Valley and Water Front
The year will also see completion of Leisure Valley in Sarabha Nagar and Water Front (Phase-2) at Sidhwan Canal. The valley was damaged due to construction of RUB at Pakhowal Road railway crossing. The work is still going on in the leisure valley and it is expected to complete within two months. It was supposed to get completed by October 2022
ROB/RUB at Pakhowal Road
The much-awaited construction work of railway over bridge/railway under bridge (ROB/RUB) at Pakhowal Road railway crossing is expected to see completion this year. The Rs-124-crore project has missed several deadlines in the past two years. It was expected to get completed in 2022, but it could not happen due to technical reasons. The officials claimed they have sought permission from the senior officials in Chandigarh to tell whether it will be expanded up to 1km or not, so that they could move ahead with completion of work. This will ease out traffic coming to and fro Hero Bakery Chowk and Pakhowal Road, so people don’t have to waste time at railway crossing.
4 road sweeping machines
The MC will soon purchase four sweeping machines to start night sweeping in all the four zones. These machines will help in removing the dust particles from roadsides. These will be purchased under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Already, one machine is deputed on the task at a few selected roads at night time. The officials claimed these machines will be available by February.