Open house: Are simultaneous development projects a sign of progress or poor planning?

Simultaneous projects require planning

Simultaneous infrastructure works like the Salem Tabri underpass and repairs of Domoria and Jagraon bridges reflect intent to speed up development, but they also expose planning challenges. While such efforts can reduce overall project timelines and signal progress, executing them together in congested old city areas has led to severe traffic snarls and daily inconvenience for commuters. Development should be efficient, not disruptive. The lack of proper traffic diversion plans, coordination, and timely public communication suggests gaps in execution. A phased approach, with priority-based scheduling and better inter-departmental coordination, could have minimized the impact.

In conclusion, simultaneous projects can be a sign of progress only when backed by thoughtful planning. Otherwise, they risk appearing as poor planning, where the cost of development is borne by the public.

Panthpreet Kaur

Start project on priority

These projects are very necessary to meet urgent demands for traffic improvement. These projects provide future benefits by reducing congestion through new bridges, underpasses and flyovers. These projects are connected to improve connectivity across a city. To avoid disruptions, carry out work during the night. Traffic authorities introduce diversion, guiding the commuters through alternative routes to manage congestion.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Allow partial opening during peak hours

Simultaneously start of project is both a sign of progress and poor planning, progress in terms of as it shows that authorities are finally addressing old, neglected infrastructure (e.g., Salem Tabri underpass, Domoria and Jagraon bridges) that was unsafe or inadequate. Doing them together compresses the disruption period rather than stretching it over years. On the other hand in terms of poor planning executing multiple projects in narrow, congested old city areas without a traffic management plan, phased execution, or community coordination shows a lack of foresight. The mention of inconvenience to commuters confirms that mobility and access to homes, shops, and emergency services are being ignored. It is poor planning of authorities because no sequenced phasing (completing one before starting another). No alternative routes or dedicated diversions for old city areas. No public communication or real-time traffic updates. There is an absence of temporary pedestrian/bicycle paths or emergency corridors. To overcome the problem of starting simultaneous project is to allow partial openings during peak hours e.g., 8–11 AM, 5–8 PM for one project at a time. It must create clear diversions with signage and marshals at pinch points e.g., near Salem Tabri.

Dr. Mohammad Saleem Farooqui

Nightmare for daily commuters

Major works like the Salem Tabri underpass and repair of the Domoria and Jagraon bridges are needed to improve our roads and traffic in the long run. But doing too many big projects at the same time in busy old city areas without good planning has turned daily travel into a nightmare for commuters and shopkeepers. Roads get dug up, diversions aren’t well thought out, and traffic piles up everywhere, showing that progress can feel like chaos to people on the ground.

Development should reduce inconvenience, not increase it. Authorities must carefully sequence works, create effective detour plans, and keep traffic moving even during construction. Better coordination between departments and clear communication with the public about timelines and alternate routes will help ease travel pains. Only when infrastructure projects are well planned and people’s daily needs are considered can we call simultaneous development a sign of progress rather than poor planning.

Vidhya Rajpurohit

Multiple projects make life difficult

Running many development projects at the same time is a good thing because it shows progress. It means the government is working to improve the city and make life better for people. New roads, bridges, and underpasses can reduce traffic in the future and make travel easier. However, if too many projects are started at the same place at the same time, it can become a big problem. It can cause heavy traffic jams, delays, and inconvenience for daily commuters. People may face difficulty reaching school, work, or other important places. This can also affect emergency services. So, it is important to plan properly. Instead of starting all projects in one area, the work should be done in different parts of the city in a planned way. This will help complete projects smoothly and reduce problems for the public. In conclusion, running many projects together is a sign of development, but only when it is done with proper planning. Good planning can help balance development and public comfort.

Ishpreet kaur

Lack of planning compounded woes

Simultaneous road works, digging, and delayed projects have caused severe traffic congestion and public frustration, indicating poor coordination. While such development aims to improve long-term connectivity, current planning appears rushed and inefficient. Without better sequencing, monitoring, and quality control, the ongoing construction may create more short-term problems than sustainable urban benefits. Simultaneously, the canal-based water pipeline project is crucial for long-term water supply, but its execution has disrupted traffic citywide. Overall, these developments are beneficial in the long run, but the lack of coordination, delays, and quality issues currently make them seem more problematic than fruitful. Across Ludhiana, construction activity is visible on almost every major road—Gill Road, Dugri, Haibowal, and key stretches connecting Jagraon Bridge to Jalandhar Bypass. This overlapping of projects reflects a lack of phased planning. As reported recently, the city is “drowning in traffic” due to poorly coordinated works and the absence of alternate route planning. While beautification and redesign projects are being proposed, the real concern is structural safety. Instead of timely maintenance, authorities are now forced into large-scale intervention - causing even greater disruption.

Sahajpreet Singh

MC and traffic police must work together

Ludhiana is already grappling with a perpetual traffic gridlock and multiple construction activities going on simultaneously across different areas of the city have further compounded the woes of commuters. Traffic snarls & tailgating vehicles are the order of the day in busy junctions of the city. Construction chaos hits local businesses hard: parking woes drive customers away. Frequent fracas and incidents of road rage have become a new normal in such areas. To minimise the sufferings of the commuters, Ludhiana MC and traffic police must work in tandem and introduce a policy on real-time management and strict enforcement. Enforce strictures against illegal parking and encroachments on roads to maintain clear carriage width. Use mobile apps and digital signboards to provide updates on jams & recommend alternate routes. Increase the presence of traffic police and trained traffic marshals specifically at major construction bottlenecks. MC must develop and communicate traffic diversion routes well before the construction begins to avoid confusion. Install CCTV surveillance and AI based traffic signals to monitor and streamline the traffic. Ensure water, sewerage and electricity departments coordinate their digging to avoid the same stretch being excavated multiple times in a short period.

RS SEMBHI

True progress lies in efficiency

Simultaneous infrastructure projects in congested urban areas often present a paradox: they signal development, yet expose gaps in planning. Works like the Salem Tabri underpass and repairs of Domoria and Jagraon bridges aim to modernise the city’s transport network, reduce long-term congestion. In that sense, they are clear indicators of progress. However, executing multiple major projects at the same time in already crowded old city zones can overwhelm existing road capacity. Traffic snarls, delays, increased fuel consumption, and commuter frustration become daily realities. For local businesses and emergency services, the impact can be even more severe. Thus, while such projects reflect growth, poor coordination can undermine public confidence. This raises a critical question of sequencing and coordination. Effective urban planning should balance development with minimal disruption, possibly by staggering projects, improving traffic diversion plans, and ensuring timely completion. True progress lies not just in building infrastructure, but in executing it with foresight, efficiency and sensitivity to everyday life.

Novin Christopher

What’s the Issue

Executing multiple works together signals ambition and urgency, showing that the city is investing heavily in modernising its transport network. Coordinated construction can also mean integrated upgrades to utilities, reducing the need for repeated disruptions later. For commuters, the promise is smoother traffic, safer bridges and better connectivity in the long run. Yet, the immediate reality is gridlock, frustration and economic loss as key routes are blocked at the same time. The staggered scheduling would balance development with public convenience, reflecting sensitivity to citizens’ daily needs. The question, therefore, is not about whether development is necessary (it clearly is), but whether its execution should prioritise speed or phased planning. Ultimately, the question challenges us to consider how much short-term inconvenience society should tolerate for long-term gain, and whether governance should be judged by boldness of vision or by the prudence of planning.

QUESTION for next week

Does the Vrindavan boat tragedy, which claimed several lives from Ludhiana, reveal a deep failure of governance and safety enforcement, or does it reflect broader challenges of managing mass pilgrimage tourism in country?

Suggestions in not more than 150 words can be sent to ludhianadesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (April 16).