Double the ‘ma’am’ power: Neeru Katyal Gupta Ludhiana’s new municipal commissioner, to work with mayor Inderjit Kaur. | Ludhiana News

Despite these targets, the administration struggled to move beyond the planning stages. Civic observers noted that a lack of coordination between the commissioner’s office and local political representatives frequently stalled development projects, leaving many of Dachalwal’s goals unfulfilled upon his departure.Experience at the helmThe appointment of Neeru Katyal Gupta brings a veteran administrator back to familiar territory. Gupta’s previous tenures in Ludhiana include additional deputy commissioner (ADC), additional chief administrator of the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada), and additional commissioner of the municipal corporation. City officials hope her deep institutional knowledge and experience across multiple departments will provide the stability needed to navigate the city’s complex bureaucracy.Fiscal and political hurdlesGupta inherits a civic body facing a severe financial crisis. The MC has struggled to meet its monthly payroll due to a combination of poor local tax collection and delays in receiving the goods and services tax (GST) share from the state govt. To mitigate these costs, the city is aggressively pursuing the privatization of essential services, including door-to-door solid waste collection, road maintenance and street cleaning, and horticulture waste management.The move toward privatization has already sparked significant pushback from labor unions. Furthermore, with the 2027 elections approaching, Gupta is expected to face heightened political pressure from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, whose side holds office in the state and who currently hold all urban seats in the district. Neither Dachalwal nor Gupta was available for comment at the time of publication. MSID:: 126998615 413 |