Downside | Many phases & many problems: Mohali civic mess gets worse and worse every day

The issue has also found mention in the Punjab Assembly, where Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh flagged unregulated parking outside major hospitals. Notices were issued to hospitals found using basement parking areas for commercial purposes, forcing vehicles onto public roads. However, action against prominent hospitals remains pending. Markets continue to function without basic parking demarcation, while on roads such as those in Phase 7, long lines of parked vehicles choke traffic. Enforcement by traffic police is often perceived as lax, offering little relief to commuters.

Compounding the problem is the continued absence of a city bus service. Despite nearly two decades of planning since 2006, Mohali failed to roll out a public transport system this year as well. Multiple proposals were drawn up over the years, and the Municipal Corporation had even approved Rs 6 crore in its budget at one stage. Dedicated routes were identified and the possibility of running CTU buses was explored, but the plans never moved beyond files.

In the absence of public transport, autorickshaw operators have come to enjoy a virtual monopoly, charging inflated fares and adding to traffic congestion. Poor road conditions have further worsened the situation, with avoidable traffic jams becoming a daily feature. Although political parties have repeatedly promised a city transport system in their election manifestos, none have delivered, leaving residents without a viable alternative to private vehicles even in 2025.

Mohali’s garbage problem has added another layer to the civic crisis. The city has struggled without a permanent dumping site, turning large parts of Mohali into informal dumping zones marked by litter and frequent garbage burning. The situation deteriorated further after the closure of the main dumping site at Phase 8-B in November 2024, following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the National Green Tribunal.

Since then, the Municipal Corporation has operated without a permanent waste disposal facility, leading to garbage accumulation across residential areas, markets and arterial roads. Official records show that temporary garbage collection points have increased from 11 to 53, forcing residents to dump waste along roadsides and vacant plots. A proposal to develop a 50-acre integrated waste processing facility at Samgauli village has made little headway, with access roads, boundary walls and processing units still incomplete.

Meanwhile, GMADA continues to develop new sectors without integrating solid waste management into planning. No refuse management centres or waste transfer points have been created in these areas, leaving no organised mechanism for garbage collection. Unplanned dumping and burning of waste have raised serious concerns over public health, sanitation and environmental safety, underlining persistent gaps in coordination and urban governance.