Open House: What should be the Chandigarh MC’s priority areas to spend Centre’s Rs 125-cr grant?

Improve waste management system

The Rs 125-crore grant should be spent judiciously on pressing civic priorities. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) must first focus on improving waste management with modern segregation, recycling, and disposal systems to ensure a cleaner city. Strengthening water supply and sewage treatment infrastructure should be the next priority to improve public health. Investment in green spaces, parks, and tree plantation will enhance the city's environment and quality of life. Upgrading roads, street lighting, and public transport facilities can ease citizens' daily hardships.

Parvinder Singh, Mohali

Invest in monsoon Preparedness

The Centre's Rs 125-cr grant is a welcome decision. The MC needs to be wise in spending this money. Repairing damaged roads should be a priority as monsoon preparedness has left a lot to be desired in recent years. Also, they should look for creative ways to handle waste management. Ideas can be sought from the citizens and even small token of reward/certificate can be given to them for being an active citizen. Educating children by means of seminars and symposium in schools to maintain cleanliness can work well too.

Sanjeev Bishnoi, Panchkula

Replace old drains, water pipelines

A major focus should be on the renewal of worn-out roads and the critical upgrade of underground infrastructure, such as stormwater, old water pipelines and sewer networks, which are vital for transportation, public health and flood prevention. The second focal point lies in improving sanitation. Upgrading waste management mechanisms to make the city cleaner and garbage-free is essential. Initiatives to expand green spaces are also needed for a sustainable urban environment.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Maintain city roads, cycle tracks

The additional Rs 125 crore should be spent on improving civic infrastructure that directly impacts citizens' daily lives. Priority must be given to repair and proper maintenance of roads, cycle tracks, and streetlights to ensure safety and ease of mobility. Clean drinking water supply, efficient waste management, and development of green spaces should also be at the forefront. Equally important is the upgradation of parking lots with digital systems to reduce chaos and corruption. A portion of funds must go towards strengthening public transport and creating sustainable mobility solutions.

Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh

Repair, streetlights and parking lots

It is good for the cash-strapped MC to receive Rs 125 crore from the Centre. The tag of City Beaurtiful cannot be retained without the cleanliness and maintenance of its infrastructure. The MC must initiate road repair at the earliest along with recarpeting after the monsoon for the convenience of commuters. Secondly, the cleaning of drains which led to flooding of city with every rain needs to be taken up on priority basis. Thirdly, the streetlights and parking lots also need to be repaired.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (etd.), Mohali

Recarpeting of roads should be a priority

Given the financial struggles of the MC, the recent grant of ?125 crore from the Centre is a positive development. Some priority areas where the funds can be effectively utilised are maintaining roads, especially V4, V5 and V6 roads, which have not been recarpeted in over five years. Upgrade and replace damaged street lights to enhance safety and ambiance in the city. Ensure uninterrupted sanitation and waste management services, including door-to-door waste collection and garbage transfer stations. Maintain a consistent water supply throughout the city. Resume development projects that were delayed due to financial constraints, such as road carpeting and maintenance.

Capt Amar Jeet, Kharar

Focus on roads near peripheral villages

There are numerous projects awaiting attention. In my view, improvement of roads, especially those leading to the Airport and others joining the city to the peripheral villages should be a priority. The parking lots can also be improved, while some school buildings also need urgent repairs. The funds should be spent in a judicious manner. The MC House should reach a consensus, sanction the budget and then move ahead with the works.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Improve maintenance of community spaces

The Rs 125 crore grant should be laser-focused on basic services that directly impact daily life and city image-priority must go to re-carpeting potholed roads, urgent repairs of water supply and sewerage lines, reliable street lighting, and rapid upgrades of sanitation and waste management systems. A second thrust should target the restoration and maintenance of parks, public toilets and community spaces, ensuring dues to Resident Welfare Associations are cleared to enable ongoing upkeep. Finally, invest in smart urban amenities like digital service kiosks, air quality solutions, and visible beautification-these quick wins restore public confidence and set the stage for sustainable, technology-driven governance.

Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali

Modernise waste management system

The sum must be used with foresight to strengthen the city's infrastructure and quality of life. Priority should be given to improving waste management, including modernising collection and disposal systems, as the city aspires to maintain its ranking among the cleanest in India. Equally important is investment in water supply and sewage treatment to ensure sustainability amid rising demand. Upgrading internal roads, footpaths, and streetlighting will enhance safety and mobility for citizens. The funds should also support development of green spaces, rejuvenation of Sukhna Lake's catchment, and promotion of renewable energy projects.

Brigadier Advitya Madan, Chandigarh

Improve city’s water drainage

Suggestions should be taken from experts before utilising the grant. Le-Corbusier design structure should be maintained. There should be a proper outlet for the excess Sukhna Lake water. The condition of roads, roundabouts, traffic signals and road-galleries should be improved, while an outer ring road should also be planned. Public transport, education and medical facilities are the other area that could do with improvements. Smooth roads and parking spaces should also be constructed.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Utilise funds to bolster tourism

The crucial grant must not be wasted on routine expenditure but directed towards projects that ensure self-reliance. Chandigarh, India's first modern planned city, deserves a strong place on the world tourism map. Funds should be utilised for upgrading the international airport, developing water sports at Sukhna Lake, building a world-class convention centre, modernising the railway station, and creating an international shopping hub. Such initiatives will attract visitors, generate steady revenue, and enrich the national exchequer.

Vijay Katyal, Panchkula

Clear pending dues of employees

The cash-strapped MC must spend the Centre-approved Rs 125 crore with clear priorities to maximize public benefit. The foremost focus should be on improving basic civic infrastructure such as repair of roads, maintenance of streetlights, and upgradation of parking lots, as these directly impact daily life. Clearing pending dues of employees and contractors should also be considered to maintain smooth functioning and morale. A portion must be allocated to ensure uninterrupted sanitation services, waste management, and cleaning of drains to prevent health hazards, especially during the monsoon season.

Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh

Rein in stray dog menace

Waste management should be given top priority so that our graph goes up in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, The heaps of waste at Dadumajra need to be dealt with. The stray dog problem, which has been causing great nuisance for City Beautiful, also needs addressing. CCTV, drone coverage for the entire city should be taken on top priority to act as a deterrent for crime occurrence. Social welfare schemes for seniors and children should be given priority.

Col TBS Bedi, Mohali

Strengthen city's public transport

The grant of ?125 crore to the Municipal Corporation is a welcome relief and must be used judiciously to address the city's pressing needs. The foremost priority should be improving basic civic services-efficient waste management, repair of roads, and strengthening the sewage system. Equally important is investment in upgrading public health infrastructure, particularly dispensaries and sanitation facilities, which directly impact citizens' well-being. A portion of the grant must go into strengthening public transport and creating safe cycling and walking tracks, which can reduce traffic congestion and improve quality of life. Finally, transparent and accountable utilisation of the grant, with citizen participation in identifying local needs, will ensure long-term benefits.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Rid the roads of potholes

The civic body should do recarpeting of roads on a priority basis to remove potholes and make the roads ready to bear the burden of rainwater and traffic. Gutters and roadsides should be cleaned to avoid waterlogging. Traffic lights should be installed at every roundabout to avoid accidents. Parking lots should be spruced up. There is an urgent need to make the city safe and secure by beefing up the security. Stray dogs and cattle menace need attention to safeguard people on roads.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Decongest city roads

In a big relief to the cash strapped MC, the Centre has approved a grant of Rs 125 crore. To spend this money, priority areas should be traffic decongestion, which would happen by solving the issue of parking in the city, pollution-free environment in the city, develop lay roads without potholes and develop a good water disposal system. Priority areas also includes well advanced infrastructure, and efficient waste management can transform the city into a real city beautiful of India.

Adish Sood, Amloh

Pay pending salaries to MC staff

The MC should pay the pending salaries of their staff as happy employees make happy workers, but rest the roads are in need of urgent attention. Also they should concentrate on quality work, timing and completion deadline. Projects going on for years together with no end are of no use. Roads should be built with advanced technology like foreign country so that they don't break every year. Our country is progressing in all fields except civil department.

Monica Agarwal, Chandigarh

Address crumbling road infra

With the civic body struggling for a financial crisis, repair and carpeting of roads in Chandigarh remained stalled for years together. Consequently, there have been potholes in almost all city roads except the roads leading to governors/ministers houses. Owing to shortage of money the repair of V-3 roads has been handed over to the Engineering Department. Further, in the absence of repair of remaining roads, there has been a great inconvenience to the residents, besides occurring accidents, damaging of vehicles.etc Traffic snarls between various sectors remained unprecedented as the usual 10 minutes drive from one place to another stretched to one hour due to bottlenecks on roads. It isthe paramount duty of the MC to undertake the repair/carpeting of dilapidated roads at the earliest.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

Use money to improve drainage system

The MC has received a grant of Rs 125 crore from the Centre. This is a great chance to improve our city. The money should be spent wisely. Bringing an expert team from IIT to assess rainwater flow can help prevent waterlogging. The current drainage system is unable to handle heavy rain, as demonstrated during the recent season. The concrete roads can make "Pothole Mukth" Chandigarh. Building cement concrete roads should be a priority. These roads can last up to 100 years and will benefit everyone in Chandigarh.

Sunny Dhaliwal, Chandigarh

Address city's waterlogging woes

The Rs 125 crore grant must be used in repair of roads, footpaths, streetlights, drainage system and address the problems of waterlogging and potholes. Upgrade landfill sites, composting units and recycling facilities. Special attention must also be given to health, with drives to curb dengue, malaria and diarrhoea cases. There should be an online system for tax, fees and permissions to reduce leakage and corruption.

Anita K Tandon, Mundi Kharar