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Advisor to CM, vetting tenders worth over Rs 2.50 crore, told to go

Chawla, who was appointed Technical Advisor to CM in June 2024 after his retirement as chief engineer, is learnt to have been asked by a senior official of the government to put in his papers.

3 min readChandigarhNov 7, 2025 08:40 AM IST

Earlier, an agreement mandated that Powercom’s CMD be a technocrat or a senior IAS officer, a norm the Punjab government had followed until now.

After termination of PSPCL director Harjit Singh, Punjab government has now accepted the resignation of Technical Advisor to Chief Minister, Ravi Chawla, who was appointed to vet tenders of buildings and roads worth over Rs 2.50 crore. The government has now asked the heads of various departments to take it upon themselves to vet the tenders and expedite the works.

Chawla, who was appointed Technical Advisor to CM in June 2024 after his retirement as chief engineer, is learnt to have been asked by a senior official of the government to put in his papers. Sources said that Chawla tendered his resignation Wednesday, which was a gazetted holiday on account of Guru Nanak Dev’s Gurpurab. His resignation was accepted the same day.

Soon after, it is learnt that the government has asked administrative secretaries of the departments concerned to do the vetting on their own. An official of the government said that several secretaries had complained about Chawla that he was sitting on too many files and the works were getting delayed.

The post of Technical Advisor was created by former CM Parkash Singh Badal after coming to power in 2007 with a view to have a “check” on the tenders worth over Rs 2.50 crore. No tender worth this amount was floated unless it got a nod from the Technical Advisor, who had direct access to the CM. Lt Gen (Retd) BS Dhaliwal was the first Technical Advisor. His role involved providing technical expertise, including vetting tenders, overseeing infrastructure projects, and ensuring technical standards and quality control in government projects. After Badal’s successor took over the reins of the state in 2017, he continued with Lt Gen Dhaliwal until December 31, 2018. Later, former Chief Engineer RS Sandhu was appointed. He was replaced by AAP government by appointing Chawla in his place.

Chawla, who retired as chief engineer in Punjab PWD last year. He had remained on key postings as chief engineer (National Highway), remained technical advisor to MD, PIDB in addition to nodal officer of CRF (Central Road Fund) and railways.

Chawla has been shown the door after the government took action against two more technocrats this week. They include Director (Generation) Harjit Singh , who was terminated and Chief Engineer of Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant, Ropar, Harish Sharma, who was put under suspension.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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