Malerkotla admn to begin construction of litigant blocks, additional rooms

Having faced significant challenges due to the lack of adequate infrastructure for 53 months since its formation on June 2, 2021, Malerkotla district administration is now poised to start the construction of residences for judicial officers, litigant blocks, additional rooms for district and session judges, circuit house, residences of executive officers, police lines and a standard District Administrative Complex (DAC).

The administration claimed to have taken physical possession of 31.11 marlas. Sources at various offices at the district administrative office revealed that the officials had initiated the process for obtaining grants for the construction of DAC at an estimated cost of Rs 111.28 crore under the Special Assistance for Capital Investment Scheme from the Union Government on May 13. A rough cost estimate for the project was sent for administrative approval on November 22, 2023. A plan for the construction of a litigant block and rooms for district and session judges at Rs 5.45 crore has been drafted, whereas 13 kanals have been earmarked for the construction of the residence of judicial officers. Design for the infrastructure will be approved by the authorised buildings committee. Construction of a circuit house in 4 kanals and residences of executive officers at the land acquired recently; are also on the anvil. The administration also plans to construct police civil lines on 38 bighas 16 biswas at Kup village on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla highway at an estimated cost of Rs 36 crore.

Acknowledging hiccups in the construction of adequate premises for accommodating administrative offices, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu said, “Although it has been a challenge to function from inadequate and temporary premises we have been giving priority to facilities for visitors all these years. Now, when the ground work for establishing various premises has been completed we are closely

monitoring the progress of various projects.”

Upon its formation as Punjab’s 23rd district, Malerkotla had faced an acute lack of dedicated buildings and fundamental administrative functions. Various offices, including those of the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police, have been running from old government spaces allocated earlier to other departments.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court even intervened, questioning why the new district was created without proper infrastructure for the judicial officers.