Open House: What are your expectations from Harpreet Kaur Babla as she takes on the role of chandigarh Mayor?

Ensure completion of ongoing projects

With the change of guard at the Municipal Corporation, the foremost need is of scientific waste management, including the clearance of the Dadumajra legacy waste. Creating adequate multi-level parkings, ensuring orderly management of existing parkings, action against illegal encroachments should also be taken care of. The Mayor must priorities completion of the ongoing public projects before moving on newer ones.

SS Arora, Mohali

Bring metro project to tricity

While welcoming new mayor, we expect her to demand from Centre the approval for a metro project for the tricity. She must also give special attention to the waste management by increasing the available capacity of plant as, at present, we are not able to treat the daily arising of waste. Cleanliness of the the city parks and green-belts should also be ensured.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

Implement people-centric policies

As the head of the Municipal Corporation, the Mayor is entrusted with many important duties. Evaluating and implementing policies in the interest of the people should be at the top. The city roads should be maintained properly, proper sanitation and cleanliness, proper management of traffic and functioning of cameras are some other pressing issues.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

Make use of 'double engine' governance

A new mayor from the BJP has taken over office. Thus, it's again a "double engine" government in the city. The new mayor should bring a special grant for the

city and take stern action against the encroachment and rent out the civic body properties to generate revenue. There is also an urgent need to complete the road repair work in the city and levy a green tax.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Address waste management issue

There are a number of works that await completion, the most prominent eyesores being the deplorable condition of some city roads and the mountain of garbage at Dadu Majra. The long-pending issues should be on the top of the Mayor's priority list. It will be a great service to the city and it's residents if the Mayor can solve these problems.

Sqn Ldr Manjit Singh Johar (retd.), Chandigarh

Streelights need to be fixed

The new Mayor should work towards the development and upliftment of the city. The roads, parks and streetlights should be on the priority list. Special attention must be paid on maintenance of parks which are often seen with broken swings and overgrown grass. Playgrounds must be made in various sectors, which would help the children to indulge in sports and extra-curricular activities. The grievances and problems of people should be considered and solved on priority.

Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

Focus on health, education sectors

The new Mayor's primary focus must be on fast-tracking all the ongoing and pending developmental projects. Cleanliness must be a major priority with focus on eliminating the legacy waste. Government schools must be better-equipped with modern education facilities and infrastructure. Health facilities in government hospitals and clinics should also be improved immediately. The ongoing ugly squabbles in the house must be managed properly.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

Don't let waste dumping malign image

Chandigarh is a modern and beautiful city and its citizens expect that the issues like improper garbage dumping not malign its image. The Mayor must improve the entire process, from collection to processing. More sweepers should be appointed to maintain the status of a beautiful city. Condition of roads and traffic lights should be improved. Sign and direction boards should be arranged properly. Baseless branches of trees and dry trees should be removed cut. Proper arrangement should also be made for parking.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Rid city of encroachments

The general public wants the mayor to get rid of the illegal encroachment of the public land and parking places by the vendors. The mayor should also complete the work pertaining to the multi-level parking. Also senior citizens want to get rid of the fear of snatchers from their minds as it's very difficult for them to step out. Last but not the least, make special efforts to take care of the cleanliness of City Beautiful.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

Find ways to generate revenue

The Mayor should focus on generating revenue for the Municipal Corporation to ensure better financial health. Bring stability and order to the Municipal Corporation, which has faced financial challenges and halted development in recent times. She intends to work on developing the city's erstwhile villages and colonies to improve infrastructure and living conditions. Ultimately she should work collaboratively with opposition to achieve the city's development.

Anita K Tandon, Mundi Kharar

Draw more business to the city

The Mayor should also try to make Chandigarh a financial hub as suggested by the present MP. The city is already having good infrastructure, including good rail and air links and thus there is a potential to draw business to the city by making minor upgrades and policy tweaks. The Mayor is from ruling party and can certainly fetch all the possible assistances from the Centre to achieve the targets.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Expedite projects that are hanging fire

There is a need to expedite and complete ongoing development projects to improve infrastructure and public services. This includes ensuring 24-hour water supply, sanitation, and better parking facilities. Administrative Efficiency: Restoring order within the Municipal Corporation, which has faced challenges in the past, is essential for effective governance.

Khushboo Singla, Kharar

Saniation, Parking woes need addressing

The new Mayor's main focus should be on sanitation, parking woes and hassle free complaint attention system in the corporation. Since local MP is from an opposition political party, the two should work as a team by keeping city's interests above their politics.

Alka Tandon, Panchkula

Bat for sustainable development

The Mayor should focus on generating revenue for the Municipal Corporation to ensure better financial health. Bring stability and order to the Municipal Corporation, which has faced financial challenges and halted development in recent times. She intends to work on developing the city's erstwhile villages and colonies to improve infrastructure and living conditions. Ultimately she should work collaboratively with opposition to achieve the city's development.

Anita K Tandon, Mundi Kharar

Sanitation, Parking woes need attention

At a time when the city is heading towards the start of major projects like the metro and the Tribune flyover, the new Mayor must give a thought to the sustainable development of the city. The mayor must have a concrete plan to revive and revitalize the green cover that would be lost as a result of these projects. There is a need to reinvest energies into increasing the green cover and not surrender to abject urbanisation

resulting in the city becoming a concrete jungle.

Gurnoor Grewal, Chandigarh

Make city cleaner and greener

The new Mayor must make city cleaner and greener and take steps to improve air Quality. Public dealings must be made online to avoid harassment of residents, while recarpeting of city roads, encouraging cycling by laying more cycle tracks and strengthening public transport through more e-buses can all be explored.

HS Dhanoa, Chandigarh

Weed out Corruption from civic body

Atop the list of the expectations from the new Mayor has to be a corruption-free working of the municipal corporation. Also, there is a need to fix the responsibilities of councillors and to do away with unnecessary spending of funds, instead using them for public welfare.

Kirpal Singh, Chandigarh

Rethink policy for e-rickshaws

Chandigarh roads are over crowded with e-rickshaws. They are not obeying traffic rules and also bullying commuters and pedestrians on the road. They are putting other road users at risk and there needs to be a mechanism to reign in the menace.

Charanjit Singh, Chandigarh

Boost infra to curb crime

The new Mayor has to shoulder many responsibilities. City Beautiful is facing increasing crime in the city and necessary steps be taken to curb the same. An infra upgrade can help achieve that goal. CCTV cameras and drones system must be upgraded to act as deterrent to commit crime. Control of stary dogs/animals to make tricity free from this menance must be made and to achieve with all our efforts to improve our graph.

Col TBS Bedi, Mohali

Put cap on Civic body expenditure

Priority should be to generate revenues and put a cap on unnecessary expenditures to come out of fiscal crunch. It's time to enhance security to keep the robbery, snatching, murders and gangster culture at bay. The criminals and gangster have made the city their home, posing a threat to the safety of the residents that needs urgent heed.

Alka Tandon, Panchkula

Promote cycling to decongest city

The new Mayor should prioritise decongesting roads and that can be done by encouraging cycling. Well-maintained cycle tracks with proper lighting and fully operational paid cycling stations are essential. Additionally, beautifying the city's entry points with fountains and vibrant flowers will create a grand welcome, making residents and visitors feel the essence of Chandigarh's charm and cleanliness.

Vijay Katyal, Panchkula

Promote accountability and transparency

We hope that the new Mayor will focus on improving the city's infrastructure, including roads, public transportation and community facilities. Residents expect to enhance public services, such as sanitation, waste management, and healthcare facilities. Given the recent corruption charges against the previous mayor, people hope that Harpreet Kaur Babla will promote transparency and accountability in her administration.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Question for next week

The UT Administration has invited suggestions on the draft “Municipal Corporation Pet and Community Dog Bylaws, 2023.” What key provisions do you think should be included in the bylaws?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com