Rs 450-crore Ludhiana City Centre project site in ruins

Ludhiana City Centre, a Rs 450-crore project that was supposed to generate employment, attract global investments and redefine urban identity, has become a hotspot for drug addicts.

Conceived in 2003 and spread across 25 acres in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar along the Pakhowal road, the site is strewn with trash and wild vegetation.

Real estate developer Rakesh Malhotra said, “Had the City Centre project been completed, it could have positioned Ludhiana as a regional commercial powerhouse, attracting international brands and investors.”

“Instead, the project now stands as a symbol of lost opportunity and administrative paralysis,” he said.

Badish Jindal, president of the World MSME Forum, said, “This project was a chance to showcase Ludhiana’s industrial prowess on a global stage. It would have generated employment, boosted revenue and strengthened the state’s economy. However, the project is in a shambles.”

Onkar Singh Pahwa, Chairman and MD of Avon Cycles, said, “We’re seeing malls mushroom across Ludhiana, yet the city centre — once envisioned as a landmark project — lies in ruins. It’s a colossal waste of infrastructure. Had it been completed, it could have elevated Ludhiana’s economic profile and created thousands of jobs.”

Late MLA Gurpreet Gogi had actively tried to arbitrate between the LIT and construction firm, despite the matter being sub judice. He chaired a Punjab Vidhan Sabha committee visit and proposed converting the site into a medical college and hospital. But with his passing earlier this year, the proposal has stalled.

LIT Chairman Tarsem Singh Bhinder said, “The matter is in the court. I cannot comment upon anything.”

A senior LIT official said the construction firm had possession of the site. “The case is sub judice. The redevelopment proposal can only move forward once the legal dispute is resolved,” the official added.

Despite Rs 6.4 lakh tender floated by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) to install safety sheets and barricades, most have either gone missing or have been damaged, leaving pits and rusted iron rods exposed.

Residents said the situation around the project worsens during monsoon, when stench emanates from stagnant water.

Gurwinder Singh, a local, said, “The stench is unbearable, water collects everywhere and addicts roam freely. After dark, it’s dangerous — especially for children. We avoid this stretch completely.”

Arvind Sharma of SBS Nagar said, “A stray animal fell into one of the pits and had to be rescued. There’s no lighting and fencing on 25 acres. My complaint is still pending with the Human Rights Commission.”

“Last year, we felt relieved after safety barricades were installed, but they’re now missing,” said Sukhjit Kaur, another resident.

“I have stopped my morning and evening walks near the project. During monsoon, the smell is unbearable. It’s no longer safe or pleasant to be anywhere near the site,” she said.

“With no headway in sight, the project is a grim reminder of civic and economic dreams getting buried under legal tangles,” added Arvind Sharma, a local.