Ludhiana: The much-hyped project of UID numberplates with QR code is in the news again after work came to a standstill due to a tussle between the selected firm and MC officials. The contractor firm stopped work after installing UID number plates with QR code on 80,000 properties, claiming that the MC had changed the scope of work and was now demanding drone survey of all properties. Civic officials said that talks were on and they would convince the contractor to complete work on previous terms.
The MC had issued a letter of authorisation to the contractor in April 2023 but as the authorities could not decide where they should inaugurate the work, installation of plates started only in Nov 2023. The firm was asked to start installing the plates from block 29 and cover Shimlapuri area first. As of now, 80,000 plates have been installed and almost 1.5 lakh properties have been surveyed through GIS mapping.

A few months back this year, civic officials asked the contractor to get a survey done with the help of a drone as the PMIDC had instructed them to do the same.
However, the contractor refused saying that it was not in his scope of work. At this, MC officials asked him for a quotation if they had to revise the tenders and also asked him to give one area done using a drone.
Sources said that the contractor refused to make any changes and issued an agreement termination notice.
The notice period has lapsed and officials are trying to convince the contractor to continue with the work. Sources also said that if the MC floated tenders again, the cost, which is Rs 4 crore at present, would be around Rs 12 crore.
Meanwhile, MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal admitted that work had been stopped by the firm but said that talks were on and they would ensure that the contractor completed the project on previous terms. He added that termination of the project at this stage would prove to be a major problem for the MC.
Under the UID number plates project, which is being taken up under the Smart City Mission, officials will get details of properties with a single click of the QR code. The project is aimed at getting complete details of properties so that these can be integrated with the command and control centre for further usage.
A UID number plates project failed in the past due to scant public response. The project started on June 23, 2017 and authorities decided to shelve it after installation of around 35,000 plates.