CHANDIGARH, Oct 8 —For administrative efficiency and investor confidence, the Punjab Government has achieved 100% clearance of all old pending cases at the state level, officials said on Wednesday with the milestone following Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s relaunch of the FastTrack Punjab Portal on May 29, 2025, streamlining approvals and accelerating project execution across departments.
According to official data, Punjab has reduced old pending cases by over 90% within months. In February 2025, there were 8,075 applications pending beyond the due date; that number has now dropped to just 283, marking a 96% reduction. At the district level, pending cases fell from 833 to only 17, achieving a 98% clearance rate.
At the state level, 166 old cases as of February have been completely cleared, reflecting what officials described as “a 100% disposal rate through targeted reforms and digital transparency.”
A senior official said that under the reformed framework, a maximum of 45 days has been set for completion of any administrative task. “If a response isn’t received within that time, the application is automatically approved,” the official noted. Applications with no applicant response within the stipulated period are closed, while an appeal mechanism ensures fairness in case of rejection.
Since the portal’s relaunch, Punjab has attracted projects worth ₹21,700 crore, an increase of 167% over 2024 and 110% over 2023. Project applications have also risen to 950, marking 76% year-on-year growth.
Between April and September 2025, 17,006 service applications (87%) and 4,884 license applications (81%) were approved within deadlines. Under the Punjab Right to Business Act (RTBA), industrial projects with investments up to ₹125 crore now receive expedited approvals — within 5 days for those inside approved industrial parks and 15–18 days for those outside, based on self-declaration.
So far, the government has received 112 project applications under the RTBA, of which 85 (76%) have been approved — seven automatically — while 34 are under process.
In a first-of-its-kind national initiative, the Revenue Department has also launched an online CRO (Change of Revenue Officer) service, enabling investors to obtain land feasibility certificates digitally. Of 134 applications received, 78 (50%) have been approved and the rest are in process.
During the ongoing financial year, Punjab has already registered 1,295 project applications, translating into an expected investment of ₹29,480 crore and creation of 67,672 new jobs. Since March 2022, the state has attracted 7,414 projects worth ₹1.29 lakh crore, generating nearly 4.6 lakh employment opportunities.
Officials said these results underscore Punjab’s transformation into one of India’s most transparent and business-friendly states. “By clearing every old case and fast-tracking new ones, the government has set a new benchmark for efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business,” an official from the Industries Department said.
The Chief Minister has repeatedly said that the government’s focus is on “speed, simplicity, and service delivery” — principles now reflected in Punjab’s digital governance model and rising investor trust.
