Despite a two-year delay, Ludhiana's Municipal Corporation has launched the installation of Unique Identity Number (UID) plates, funded by the Smart City Mission. This transformative project aims to enhance civic services and modernise the city. The UID plates, featuring QR codes, facilitate seamless access to property details. While residents benefit from streamlined services, concerns arise in areas like Dhandhari, reflecting the hesitation to providing such amount of transparency nevertheless MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi expresses confidence in achieving technological advancements and urban development through projects completion.
In spite of a two-year delay the municipal corporation has finally initiated the installation of Unique Identity Number (UID) plates, each featuring a QR code, on properties throughout the city. Financed by the Smart City Mission, this project holds the promise of transforming the urban landscape and enhancing civic services. The Smart City Mission underscores the city's commitment to modernisation. The QR code on the UID plates serves as a digital gateway for officials, allowing seamless access to property details with just a click. This integration into a command and control centre marks a progressive step towards efficient data utilisation for the benefit of both residents and authorities. City residents stand to gain significantly from this initiative. The precise UID numbers assigned to their properties empower them to effortlessly access a myriad of municipal services through a simple click. Beyond convenience, these UID plates serve a dual purpose by aiding officials in tracking property owners' financial obligations, ensuring a streamlined and transparent administrative process. The city, encompassing 37 blocks, currently boasts 4.25 lakh properties, as per the earlier survey. Anticipating growth, officials expect the property count to escalate to 5 lakh. What is of primary importance is that the municipal corporation, after mapping nearly 1.25 lakh properties, has successfully installed around 1,000 UID plates. Initiated in Dhandhari and adjacent areas of block 29, where a substantial migrant population resides, the installation process faces unique challenges. Residents express concerns that the UID plates may subject them to increased scrutiny by the civic body, potentially leading to obligations such as water supply payments and other dues. Balancing the need for progress with the apprehensions of the community remains a key aspect of this transformative project. Simultaneously, a fresh property survey is underway, revealing an additional 20,000 properties in block 29 alone. The undertaking, while essential for accurate data, encounters resistance from the public, temporarily halting the survey and installation work. Despite challenges, the civic body remains resolute, recommencing efforts to realise the project's full potential from November 6. MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi acknowledges the public's apprehension, emphasising that the project's completion is paramount for creating a comprehensive database beneficial to both the city and the municipal corporation. Despite initial reluctance, the city's commitment to technological advancements and urban development stands as a testament to its progress. As the UID plates become a visible part of the cityscape, they represent more than just a technological upgrade – they symbolise a step toward a more connected and informed urban future.