Go back to basics, use budgetary allocation judiciously

The MC should work for the development of the city. The maintenance of roads, parks and streetlights must be given priority. Cleanliness and sanitation are always seen wanting. Safai karamcharis are only seen during festivals. The stray dog menace is a major problem as the Municipal Council has miserably failed to curb it. Grievances and problems of people should be solved on a priority basis.

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Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

Post-demonetisation, cut cost of projects

Keeping in view the decline in prices of properties and other items post-demonetisation, the cost of various development projects should be cut to 10-15 per cent to eliminate corruption. Funds should be utilised judicially for the projects that create jobs and provide better facilities. Priority should be given to the Metro project, public transportation, health care, IT sector, solar energy, waste management, roads and educational institutes. The Administration should promote the private-public partnership for major projects.

Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (Retd), Chandigarh

Proper planning needed

The allocation of funds may be small or big but before deciding the priorities, we should have a proper policy and planning in place. The focus should be on a good and effective health care system, potable drinking water, safe living for all, affordable education, safe and fast local transportation besides green and clean environment for all citizens of Chandigarh. Lastly, we should ensure to preserve the heritage and topography of Chandigarh.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma

Hold MC, UT Admn accountable

The focus of the UT Administration and the Municipal Corporation should be on the maintenance of roads and parks. The famous bougainvillea garden is crying for care. Markets in city sectors need maintenance. The smart city tag should only be given by checking all city gardens, markets and schools. The Municipal Corporation and the UT Administration should be held responsible for the upkeep of the city.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh

Improve education, health facilities

The major focus in 2017-18 should be on improvement in education and health facilities besides sanitation. There are schools, hospitals and dispensaries but services provided there are in a poor shape in the absence of the requisite staff and infrastructure. The city, which is called City Beautiful, lacks cleanliness, especially in the southern sectors, despite a thrust on making it a smart city. Instead of roping in contractors, it would be better to fill vacant posts of safai karamcharis. Instead of conceiving new projects, old projects need to be maintained properly.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

Complete development projects

The Chandigarh Administration should honestly complete the projects already in the pipeline. The health services should be strengthened. High-tech laboratories and affordable treatment for the poor should be provided on a priority basis. The Electricity Department should contemplate laying underground cables to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity. The Municipal Corporation should seriously manage the disposal of solid waste while ensuring continuous functioning of the waste management plant and make arrangements for a sufficient supply of drinking water during summer. The MC should develop more parks in the southern sectors.

Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali

Develop infrastructure

The infrastructure and facilities at government schools, especially in rural areas, must be improved. There is a need to give a fillip to the construction of underpasses/flyovers at desired road intersections. There is also a need for a mass public transportation system to ease congestion on city roads.

SS Arora, Mohali

Focus on traffic, waste management

The Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation should focus on the traffic management system, waste management and facilities at government schools. There is a need to properly maintain water pipes to avoid an outbreak of water-borne diseases. Funds should also be spent on safety features at parks and other public places.

Kamalpreet Kaur, Mohali

Open hospitals, schools

The Municipal Corporation has got Rs 419.26 crore in the Union Budget. It includes Rs 100 crore for the Smart City project and Rs 50 crore for the Kajauli waterworks. The Administration should open more hospitals, schools and sports complexes. it should also provide more buses, cycle tracks, footpaths besides a replacement of streetlights with LED bulbs.

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh

Strengthen road network

The authorities should spent funds on strengthening the road network to ease traffic chaos besides controlling the stray cattle menace. The next priority should be an improvement in the education and medical facilities for the poor to save them from private players. The next priority must be to keep the city environment friendly. Funds should also be spent to preserve the heritage of the city.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali

Complete left-out works

The authorities should complete the development works left incomplete before taking up new projects. All areas in the city should be treated equally. There should not be any diversion of funds.

AS Ahuja, Chandigarh

Judicious use of funds a must

The UT Administration and the Municipal Corporation should utilise funds judiciously for development works of the city. Adequate money should be spent to provide round-the-clock supply of hygienic drinking water to residents. Roads should be widened to accommodate ever-increasing number of vehicles. Cleanliness should be given priority.

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh

Generate more resources

Against the demand of over Rs 1,000 crore, the Municipal Corporation has been allotted Rs 419 crore. Money from more sources will have to be raised. It can be done by auctioning parking lots, allotting vacant booths. The MC may employ its own staff at parking lots.

Nikita Kapur, Chandigarh

Provide basic amenities

Residents want basic amenities. The city lacks adequate water storage capacity. The MC should make alternative arrangements in this regard. Taking future needs into consideration, the UT Administration should spend on health care, education, improving the public transport system. Efforts should be made to make the city crime free.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Make Punjab, Haryana pay for city’s upkeep

As the city is aspiring for the smart city tag, it becomes necessary to ensure cleanliness and reduce chaos besides providing other basic amenities. Villages must not be deprived of their share of development. Suggestions from experts should be sought for a judicious use of funds. Punjab and Haryana should also be pursued to pay for the maintenance of the city.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali

Frame stringent laws

The Municipal Corporation should focus on providing adequate clean drinking water besides uninterrupted power supply in all sectors and peripheral areas. Cleanliness is also a must. Overflowing dustbins can be seen at several places. The traffic management is also a must. Better school buildings with all basic facilities are also a must. More stringent laws/rules should be framed to penalise those who waste water, litter at public places and flout traffic rules.

Vinai Chakravarty

Fulfil people’s expectations

City residents have high hopes from the councillors. They should fulfil the promises they made during the MC elections. Dilly-dallying won’t do. As the BJP is in the power in the city as well as the Centre, people expect faster results.

SC Luthra, Mani Majra

Carry out beautification drive in city

It is said that the first impression is the last impression. At all entry points of the city, beautiful gates must be erected so that whosoever comes to the Beautiful City carries a good impression of it. All buildings along the main roads should be of same colour. Big rooms should be constructed around the city where safai karmacharis dump the waste. Tourist spots must be displayed prominently at all entry points of the city.

Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra

Councillors, officials should work in tandem

The education system needs to be strengthened and more schools should be set up. The traffic congestion is a burning issue and needs to be tackled at the earliest. Underpasses should be constructed. There is no proper sewage disposal system. Sanitation should be given priority. Enough water and electricity should be provided. Councillors and officers must work in a tandem to make the city smart.

Keshav Pal, Ambala City

Maintain law and order

The UT Administration should focus on the IT sector for job creation and a hike in revenue. The city can be made beautiful by providing the basic amenities such as water, quality food and transportation. Free health care facilities for senior citizens and a good education system for children help in the development of the country. The focus should be on maintaining the law and order. City can be made beautiful by growing more and more trees and reducing the factors that cause pollution.

Umang, Ambala

Stress on improving living conditions

The funds received by the UT Administration have added to people’s wish list. Stress should be given on improving the living conditions of residents by improving road connectivity, water supply, public transport and waste management. This can only be done if the councilors and officials in close coordination.

Tejaswini Pandwar, Ambala

Create job opportunities

The UT Administration and the Municipal Corporation should take necessary steps to strengthen the infrastructure by ensuring better transport services, roads, parking area and parks. An emphasis should be laid on the plantation of trees, better water supply and quality food. The authorities should also create job opportunities in the government as well as the IT sector.

Gautam, Ambala

Metro eagerly awaited

The Metro rail project, six years after its inception, is eagerly awaited by residents in the city. It will reduce congestion on city roads. There is also no proper sewage disposal system in the city. The UT Administration should also spend money on providing an adequate water supply to city residents. More money should be spent on the solid waste management, which is woefully lacking.

Neelam Pandwar, Ambala City