Signboard blunders, absent staff, shut library point to civic crisis in Phagwara

Public resentment is mounting in Phagwara as the Municipal Corporation continues to be hit by a series of embarrassing and unresolved civic failures. Residents and local leaders say that even basic services are collapsing while accountability remains missing.

Anger erupted after several newly installed signboards—put up with private sponsorship—carried glaring translation mistakes in Punjabi. In one of the most criticised errors, the designation of Deputy Mayor was wrongly translated as “Sahayak Commissioner”. Critics say the mistakes are particularly embarrassing at a time when the state government has directed departments to ensure the correct usage of Punjabi.

Equally troubling is the functioning of the MC office. Residents who visited the office in the morning hours found negligible staff presence around 9 am, the official start time for public dealings. Locals complain that employees report late almost daily, delaying basic services, causing long queues and forcing citizens to make repeated visits. “Files don’t move, complaints are ignored and no one is accountable,” said a resident outside the MC office.

Adding to the picture of civic decay, the city library—prominently displayed on signboards—remains almost non-functional for years. No repairs, staffing or renovation have been carried out despite several announcements. Weeds, garbage and abandoned corners around public plots underline the Municipal Corporation’s indifference.

Meanwhile, Congress councillors have accused the MC of manipulating tenders worth nearly Rs 15 crore to favour selected contractors. Councillor Sanjeev Bugga and his colleagues have demanded a vigilance inquiry, claiming that corruption has peaked and transparency has vanished.

Mayor Ram Pal Uppal rejected the allegations, calling them “baseless and politically motivated.” Claiming complete transparency, he said all tenders are processed under established norms and that development work is being carried out impartially.