Sunny Khurma
Cheif Editor
Jalandhar, October 4, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s councillor group in Jalandhar has stepped up pressure on the Municipal Corporation over alleged irregularities linked to Smart City projects, demanding a transparent investigation, disclosure of inquiry findings and action against anyone found responsible.
The councillors have announced that they will stage a protest against the Municipal Corporation on October 9, where the Smart City issue will be raised along with several everyday civic problems affecting residents.
The party leaders have questioned the handling of projects undertaken under the Jalandhar Smart City programme and have demanded that the authorities make the findings of investigations and audits available to the public.
They have argued that residents have a right to know how public money allocated for development projects was spent and whether the projects were completed according to approved specifications.
The BJP has repeatedly referred to Smart City projects worth around ₹1,000 crore while demanding a detailed investigation into alleged financial and procedural irregularities.
However, the ₹1,000-crore figure should not be interpreted as an officially established loss or proven embezzlement of the entire amount.
The allegations involve expenditure and projects falling within a much larger Smart City programme, and responsibility for any wrongdoing can only be established through investigation, audit findings and due legal process.
Smart City Projects Have Faced Scrutiny Earlier
Questions surrounding Jalandhar Smart City are not new.
Several projects have previously come under examination, including works connected with LED streetlights, smart roads, parks and other urban infrastructure.
Past inquiries and audits raised objections regarding certain projects, leading to demands from political leaders and councillors for deeper investigation.
The latest political confrontation has brought those unresolved questions back into focus.
BJP councillors are now demanding that authorities clarify the present status of the investigations, disclose what irregularities—if any—have been formally established and explain what action has been taken following earlier complaints.
Civic Problems Also on Protest Agenda
The October 9 protest is not expected to remain limited to the Smart City controversy.
The councillor group has said it will also highlight problems involving sewerage, contaminated water, damaged roads and non-functional streetlights in different parts of Jalandhar.
The opposition councillors argue that these are basic municipal services for which residents regularly pay taxes and therefore deserve timely solutions.
Sewerage and drinking-water complaints have remained a major civic concern in several localities.
Residents in parts of the city have repeatedly complained about overflowing sewer lines, water-supply disruptions and poor road conditions, putting additional pressure on the civic administration.
Streetlighting is another issue expected to be raised during the protest, particularly in areas where residents say faulty lights have remained unattended for extended periods.
BJP Demands Inquiry Report Be Made Public
One of the key demands from the councillors is that any completed inquiry or audit relating to Smart City projects should be placed in the public domain.
They say publishing the findings would help establish whether allegations raised over the years have any substance and would also allow the public to know whether officials, contractors or any other individuals were found responsible for irregularities.
The councillors have also called for action against anyone found guilty following a fair investigation.
At the same time, allegations of corruption remain allegations unless supported by an official investigation or judicial finding.
No individual should be treated as guilty merely on the basis of political accusations.
Pressure Builds on Municipal Corporation
The planned protest is likely to increase political pressure on the Municipal Corporation as Jalandhar continues to deal with major infrastructure and sanitation challenges.
For residents, the controversy ultimately goes beyond party politics.
Questions surrounding Smart City expenditure involve public money intended to improve roads, lighting, sanitation, public spaces and other essential infrastructure.
Clear disclosure of project costs, completed work, audit observations and action taken by the authorities could therefore help address both political allegations and public concerns.
With the BJP councillor group preparing to protest on October 9, attention will now be on whether the Municipal Corporation issues a detailed response regarding the Smart City investigations and the civic problems being raised by the opposition.
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