*YEAR ENDER-2025: HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT*_

*MANN GOVT FAST TRACKS URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL REFORMS*

*PEOPLE-FIRST POLICIES UNLOCK RELIEF FOR PLOT HOLDERS AND INDUSTRY*

*AMNESTY SCHEME OFFERS RELIEF TO PLOT HOLDERS*

*PAPRA AMENDMENTS PROTECT BUYERS AND CHECK ILLEGAL COLONIES*

*EXTENSION GRANTED TO MEGA AND PAPRA PROJECTS*

*SOP WITH 60 DAY TIMELINE STREAMLINES LICENSING*

*RAJPURA MANUFACTURING CLUSTER GETS ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE*

*EV CHARGING INFRA MADE MANDATORY*

*RENTAL HOUSING PERMITTED IN INDUSTRIAL AND MIXED ZONES*

*DECENTRALISATION ENABLES FASTER REGULATORY APPROVALS*

*SINGLE AUTHORITY CLEARANCE FOR STANDALONE INDUSTRIES AND REGULARISATION POLICY FOR STANDALONE BUILDINGS*

*STATE’S LARGEST ULTRA FILTRATION STP COMMISSIONED*

*MEGA CAMPS AND ONLINE SERVICES IMPROVE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS*

*Chandigarh, December 25:*Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian today said that during the year 2025, the department introduced an Amnesty Scheme providing a long awaited window to plot holders who were unable to deposit instalments, complete construction within the stipulated period or deposit Non Construction Fee. The initiative was aimed at settling legacy issues and reinforcing public trust while maintaining planned urban growth.

Highlighting a major citizen centric reform, the Cabinet Minister said that amendments to the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act enabled buyers in unauthorized colonies to get their plots registered without obtaining NOC. Alongside this relief, stringent amendments were brought in to deter illegal development with enhanced punishment and fines for promoters indulging in unauthorized colonies.

To promote investment friendly policies and reduce pressure on developers, the department allowed partial surrender of licences and industrial park projects. Provisions for partial suspension and partial cancellation of licences were also notified, opening fresh avenues for development of industrial parks across the state, he added.

Keeping public interest in focus, the Cabinet Minister said that extensions up to 31.12.2025 were granted for completion of Mega Projects and PAPRA licensed projects. Further relief was extended through a one time provision allowing a maximum extension of five years starting from 31.12.2025 for implementation of such projects.

S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the Building Rules 2025 have been approved and the notification has been issued. Prepared after due consultation with the general public and stakeholders, these rules provide a strong push to the construction of buildings.

He said that to bring speed and clarity in colony development, a Standard Operating Procedure for grant of licences was framed with a fixed timeline of 60 days, significantly cutting procedural delays and improving predictability for developers.

For effective utilisation of land reserved for Economically Weaker Sections, the department notified a policy to monetise EWS land pockets. The revenue generated will be utilised exclusively for construction and welfare of EWS housing.

Marking a significant stride towards industrial growth, the Cabinet Minister said that an Integrated Manufacturing Cluster at Rajpura under the Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor received Environmental Clearance from the Government of India Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, positioning Punjab firmly on the industrial growth map.

In alignment with the Punjab Electric Vehicle Policy 2022, amendments were carried out in Punjab Urban Planning and Development Building Rules making provision for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and stations in all categories of buildings, he added.

To cater to housing needs of the workforce, amendments in the Rental Housing Policy permitted rental accommodation in standalone projects with a minimum area of 2.5 acres situated in Industrial and Mixed Use Zones of SAS Nagar and New Chandigarh, said the Cabinet Minister.

Ensuring faster and efficient approvals, regulatory powers related to CLU certificates, Completion Certificates and approval of layout and building plans were decentralised. Urban Development Authorities at Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda were empowered to grant approvals at their respective levels.

He said that with a view to accelerate industrial activity, powers for approval of Building Plans and grant of Completion Certificates of standalone industries outside municipal limits were delegated to the Director of Factories, ending the need for multiple departmental clearances. Providing relief to owners of standalone buildings outside municipal limits, urban estates and industrial focal points, a policy was notified for regularisation of constructions made without permission or with deviations at reasonable rates, said the Minister.

To bring transparency and ease in approvals, Online Building Plan Approval System for standalone industries was introduced. In addition, a Unified Single Window Portal was launched to process NoC applications of plots located in illegal colonies within and outside municipal limits.

Strengthening water conservation efforts, a 15 MGD Sewage Treatment Plant with 5 MGD Ultra Filtration was dedicated to the people at Sector-83 SAS Nagar. Set up at a cost of Rs.145.26 crore including eleven years of operation and maintenance, it stands as the largest Ultra Filtration Tertiary Treatment plant in the state enabling reuse of treated water for gardening, road washing, construction and industrial purposes.

To directly address concerns of promoters and developers, the department introduced a dedicated email ID transparency.hud@gmail.com to ensure timely, transparent and hassle free service delivery.

He said that mega camps were also organised this year by development authorities during the year to clear pending cases of individual allottees, promoters and developers.

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*MSME Ministry Clears Sports Technology Extension Centre at Jalandhar Following Arora–Manjhi Meeting*

*Punjab Gets Major Boost to Sports Goods Sector; Technology Extension Centre Approved at Jalandhar*

Chandigarh, 25 December 2025:Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion and NRI Affairs, Government of Punjab, Sh. Sanjeev Arora, met Hon’ble Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Sh. Jitan Ram Manjhi, in New Delhi on July 21, 2025, and sought urgent support for strengthening Punjab’s MSME ecosystem, with special emphasis on the sports goods sector clustered in Jalandhar.

During the meeting, Sh. Sanjeev Arora highlighted that Punjab’s sports goods industry has significant export potential, but continues to face key challenges related to technology upgradation, product development, testing facilities, and compliance with global quality standards. He specifically urged the Ministry to approve the establishment of a Technology Extension Centre (TEC) of the Process cum Product Development Centre (PPDC), Meerut, at Jalandhar—a proposal that had been pending with the Ministry of MSME for over eight months, despite the State Government having already provided the required infrastructure.

Acceding to the request, the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, on December 18, 2025, issued an official communication through the Principal Director, Sh. Aditya Prakash Sharma, calling for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and execution of the lease deed for setting up the approved Technology Extension Centre at the Government Institute of Leather and Footwear Technology (GILFT), Jalandhar.

The approval has been accorded under the Hub & Spoke Model, with the TEC to be mentored by PPDC, Meerut. The MoU is scheduled to be signed on January 5, 2026, in Jalandhar.

As per the communication, a total built-up area of 11,166 square feet, spread across the Ground, First and Second Floors of the GILFT building, has already been earmarked for establishment of the centre. The Technology Extension Centre will provide critical support services including advanced product and process development, technology transfer, testing facilitation, skill development, and handholding support to MSMEs, particularly units engaged in sports goods and allied manufacturing.

Welcoming the decision, Sh. Sanjeev Arora thanked the Union MSME Minister for the timely intervention and stated that the Technology Extension Centre would prove to be a game-changer for Punjab’s sports goods sector by enhancing competitiveness, improving quality standards, and boosting exports.

He added that the Punjab Government remains fully committed to extending all necessary support to ensure early operationalisation of the centre.

The initiative reflects strong Centre–State coordination aimed at strengthening MSMEs, promoting innovation-led growth, and reinforcing Punjab’s position as a leading manufacturing and export hub.

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*Year Ended 2025: Industry and Commerce*

*Punjab attracts ₹1.50 lakh Crores investment since 2022*

*Over 5 lakh employment opportunities generated*

*Progressive Punjab Investors Summit-2026 to be held from March 13–15 at Mohali*

*Successful domestic and international roadshows conducted in 2025*

*All approvals for new investments to be granted within 5–45 days*

*Punjab recognised as “Top Achiever” in Ease of Doing Business by Government of India*

*Hypothecation and registration charges on loans substantially reduced*

*RTB Act 2.0 launched with higher investment limits and faster approvals*

Chandigarh, December 25, 2025:Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora today said that Punjab has attracted ₹1.50 lakh crore (approximately USD 19 billion) in investments since the formation of the AAP Government, resulting in the generation of more than five lakh employment opportunities across the State. He said this reflects the Government’s firm commitment to making Punjab a preferred destination for investors and a leading industrial hub. Major Investments announce for Punjab in last 5 months are

HPCL Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) – ₹2,600 Crores, Vardhman Steels- ₹3,000 Crores, Trident Group – ₹2,000 Crores, IOL Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited – ₹1,400 Crores, Happy Forgings Limited – ₹1,000 Crores, Veerka Beverages Private Limited – ₹987 Crores, Fortis Healthcare (Mohali) – ₹900 Crores, Amber Enterprises India Limited – ₹500 Crores, Infosys Limited – ₹285 crore, Toppan Speciality Films Pvt. Ltd – ₹300–400 Crores.

Highlighting the future roadmap, the Minister informed that the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors Summit-2026 will be held from March 13 to 15, 2026, at Mohali, which is expected to provide a major boost to the State’s industrial ecosystem.

He stated that the recent Japan and South Korea visits to Tokya, Osaka & Seoul were highly successful, and significant fresh investments are expected following the overseas outreach, opening new avenues for foreign entrepreneurs. To further facilitate investments, the State Government is ensuring that all industrial approvals are granted within a timeline of 5 to 45 days.

Punjab has been awarded “Top Achiever” status under the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP)-2024 by the Government of India, he added. In a major relief to industry and traders, the State has introduced a single 0.25% stamp duty on the total loan amount, covering all related instruments and capped at ₹5 lakh. Additionally, the registration fee on Equitable Mortgage has been reduced from ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,000.

The Minister said that the Government has launched RTB Act 2.0 on the Punjab Invest portal, further enhancing ease of doing business by enabling consolidated approvals starting from as early as 5 days. He added that the compliance burden has been significantly reduced by simplifying, digitising, decriminalising and rationalising 833 G2B and 1,702 G2C compliances.

Amendments to the Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020 now allow eligible enterprises to commence or expand operations based on self-declaration, with In-Principle approvals issued within 5 to 18 days. About 2,000 units have already been granted such approvals. The CLU process has also been simplified by removing the requirement for standalone industries in permissible zones.

The Minister further stated that 24 specialised Sectoral Committees have been constituted to ensure robust industry consultation for the upcoming sector-specific industrial policy. Each committee is chaired by a prominent industrialist from the respective sector. All committee reports have been submitted, and a new, robust Industrial Policy is on the anvil and will be released by January 2026.

He added that the Government launched the “Rising Punjab – Suggestions to Solutions” series across Mohali, Bathinda, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Gobindgarh and Khanna, enabling direct industry participation in policy formulation. Outreach delegations led by the Chief Minister were conducted in New Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Punjab offers attractive incentives under the existing policy, including SGST reimbursement, exemptions from electricity duty and stamp duty, and special incentives for MSMEs. Fiscal incentives amounting to ₹29,933 crore have been issued to 1,145 units since March 2022.

Concluding, the Minister said that addressing a long-pending industry demand of nearly three decades, an OTS Scheme has been approved for existing allottees with 100% waiver of penal interest and 8% simple interest, along with policies for leasehold-to-freehold conversion, plot fragmentation, subdivision and reorganisation, and the constitution of an appellate authority for grievance redressal